Title: Where’s the baby? Author: Henra Email: HenraM@tuxedomask.com Rated: G It's weird...I don't have anything to say today...or any other day, for that matter. Chapter three “What do I think?” Andrew repeated, grinning madly. He looked closely at Darien, and then turned serious. “Darien. . .I think Serena’s a girl worth to keep.” “Worth to keep? What do you mean?” Darien asked, confused. He sat down on a bench near a candy machine. “Darien. . .” Andrew sighed, “you know you don’t have a great record of girls. And I think you need to keep Serena. She’s a great girl.” “Andrew, Serena and I haven’t even started to date yet!” Darien exclaimed. “And yet you’ve already kissed her!” Andrew shot back. Then he sighed again. He sat down beside his best buddy. “Serena’s bubbly and outgoing, she’s just so full of life, and a girlfriend like that is just what you need right now.” Andrew crossed his fingers. He hoped that Darien would really listen to what he said. “What I need right now? Andrew, I know what I need right now, okay? I don’t need anyone giving me advice about my life, especially my best friend!” Darien stared at Andrew, disbelieving and hurt written all over his face. He got up. “I’ve got to go and find Selena. See ya later.” Then he walked away. Andrew sighed. “I knew he would argue with me. That Darien. . . doesn’t know what he got.” Serena walked around the hall. She had managed to get through third period without looking or acting weird. Darien didn’t show up, though. “Wonder why.” Serena murmured. “Maybe some girl made him to skip or something.” That was not exactly unusual around the school, since sometimes boys had stopped her before she got to a class. Serena pushed the thought of some girl all over Darien away, and focused on Selena. *Since why did I start liking Darien Codon?* Serena sighed. “Somebody’s gotta saw Selena. They just gotta.” She muttered under her breath. Serena turned at a corner and walked straight into somebody. “Darien!” The first thought that came to mind was asking him where he was during third period, but Serena thought that that would make her sound desperate. Darien lifted his head. Serena wasn’t sure, but she could have sworn that she saw a sparkle in his eyes when he saw her. Serena decided to smile. “Hi.” “Hi.” Darien greeted. His eyes stayed on hers. “Did you get anything?” Serena asked, hoping for a miracle. “What?” “Did you get any information about Selena?” Serena asked, trying to keep her voice low. “Oh, Selena. Um, no, actually, I’m sorry.” Darien replied. He watched Serena carefully, thinking what Andrew had said to him. Serena shifted uneasily under his gaze. “Well, I just have to keep looking.” “Yeah.” Darien said softly. < Serena’s bubbly and outgoing, she’s just so full of life, and a girlfriend like that is just what you need right now.> Darien cocked his head a little. Serena smiled tightly. She didn’t know what else to do when he stared at her like that. Finally she couldn’t stand it anymore. “What???” Darien snapped to attention. “What what?” “Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?” Serena asked, even she knew that she didn’t, because she looked in the mirror just a minute ago. “Nothing. I-I. . . . .” Darien stammered. Serena smirked. “Wow. . .that’s the first time I heard the great Darien Codon stammer. And it’s actually because of me.” She pretended to pinch herself. “I’m not dreaming.” “Whatever.” But Darien was smiling. Serena grinned. “I gotta go check the second floor and find Amy and Lita. I’ll see you.” She walked toward the stairs. “Serena, wait!” Darien called out. Serena heard him and instantly turned around. She quickly walked up to him. “What?” she hissed. “I-I. . .” Darien was stammering again, and he hated himself for that. “I. . .do you want to go out sometime?” Serena’s face showed a hint of surprise. She licked her lips. “Um. . . when?” her answer was fast. Darien was caught off guard. He expected her to think about it just a little bit more. “I. . . . . .don’t know.” Serena laughed. “Call me.” She flashed him another smile, a smile that was truly happy, and then walked away. “That was smooth, Codon, really smooth.” Darien said sarcastically to himself. “But she said yes, and that’s all it matters.” He added. Darien grinned. Serena walked up to the second floor, heart pounding furiously. She took a deep breath and willed herself to calm down. Darien just asked her out. But that was not she was the most happy about. She was VERY happy about it, yes, even hysterical, but that was not why she was congratulating herself. She was giving herself a pat on the back because she answered yes so smoothly. She answered it without sounding hysterical or desperate. She even said ‘Call me’ to Darien, and that wasn’t easy, considering how popular he was. And she said in such an effortless way! Like she didn’t really care. . .but she did. So much. “Serena!” someone called out. Serena looked toward where the voice was coming from. She saw Lita and Amy coming toward her. Serena waved. “Hi!” Amy and Lita ran toward her, and stopped half a feet away. “So. . .” they said in unison. Serena’s shoulders dropped. “I guess you haven’t found Selena yet.” “Oh, Serena. . .I’m so sorry. We looked everywhere from the first floor to the second floor, and even asked several students. But no one had seen Selena, and we haven’t seen her, either. I’m really sorry.” Amy said softly. She gave Serena a hug. Serena sighed. “It’s okay. I didn’t really expect you guys to find her. I mean, if someone took her, then what we need to do is to think who is it, and find that person.” Lita snapped her fingers. “Right! Serena, you are so right! We don’t need to go around looking for Selena, it would be wasting too much time. We need to create a suspect list, and think which one would want to take a fake baby that’s for Health class.” She walked over to the drinking fountain and took a sip of water. “Ugh. That’s better. My throat was dry.” Amy thought for a minute. “So. . .who?” Serena paced around Amy and Lita. She did so for about a minute or so, and then she sighed and gave up. “You know what? I don’t know. I mean, anyone could take it. Someone took it maybe because they thought we had lost the child and he or she might have took Selena to Mrs. Dorea or even the Lost-and-Found already.” “Yeah. Then let’s go to Mrs. Dorea.” Amy said, moving slightly. “I’ll go to the Lost-and-Found, and you two can go to her classroom. See you guys at lunchtime, since I know the bell for fourth period is going to ring any minute now.” Serena said as she hugged her two friends. “Hope you find her, if I don’t.” She hurriedly climbed downstairs. Serena went to the end of the hall and stepped into the office. She looked around, trying to find someone to talk to. A woman that looked about fifty or something lifted her head from the paperwork that was on her desk. “Yes? Can I help you, honey?” She was friendly enough. Serena nodded her head. “Yes. . .um,” how was she going to say this? Say that she lost her baby for Health class and maybe the baby was inside the Lost-and-Found box? “I. . .um, lost my fake baby for Health class today, and I was just wondering, if, if the Lost-and-Found has it.” The woman smiled. “If I were your Health teacher, I would give you a bad grade for losing your baby, but I’m just an office worker.” She said playfully. “Anyway, hon, sorry, but I didn’t see any fake baby coming in inside the box.” Serena’s smile was instantly gone. “Okay, thanks, anyway.” She pushed open the office door, with her head hanging down. Serena walked toward the stairs and when she turned, she turned straight into somebody’s arms. Serena’s head snapped right up, alarmed. Darien grinned. “Just can’t help bumping into each other, huh?” “Literally. Honestly, Darien, am I that dazzling that you just can’t keep a distance?” Serena asked. She was amazed that she was actually saying this kind of stuff to Darien Codon, the jerk that she was starting to. . . . . .like. Darien’s grin got wider. “Actually, yeah.” He said in a low voice. Darien reached out and touched Serena’s cheek. She shivered. He didn’t throw an insult. “Where were you headed to?” she asked. Better stay on a safe subject. This guy was not that safe to be around. Darien pointed with a finger to the direction that Serena just headed back from. "The office." “Are you trying to go to the Lost-and-Found?” Serena asked casually. This was weird. She and Darien, thinking alike? “Actually, yeah.” Darien said. He looked at Serena. “You went there?” Serena nodded, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “So you don’t need to go there anymore. Selena was not there. You need to thank me, you know, because you didn’t need to walk the extra steps.” Darien laughed. “As if.” Then he sighed and turned serious. “We are going to be in major trouble tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow, if we don’t find Selena soon.” “But we will find her. We just have to.” Serena replied, a determined look on her face. She turned to look at the clock in the hall. “Any minute now, the bell would--” And the bell rang. “--ring. Well, gotta get to fourth period.” Serena said, looking nonchalantly at Darien. Darien shrugged. “Since we have the same period. . .come on.” He led Serena toward room 109 and casually draped an arm around her as they walked. Serena’s body temperature rose about ten degrees. She concentrated on walking straight, and keeping on breathing. His arm felt so comforting and. . .strong. She felt sorta safe when he had the arm around her. Serena made herself relax and they walked in room 109 together. Almost everyone turned to look at them. Serena gulped. She had almost forgot the latest rumor. But then again, Serena smiled, it was about to come true. Darien had asked her out. Darien let go of her, and Serena instantly felt the warmth and the safe feeling gone. She sighed inside and walked to her seat. She always disliked fourth period, not because it was Chemistry, but because Amy, Lita, nor Mina was with her. All through class Serena thought about nothing but Selena, and Darien. Selena, Darien. Darien, Selena. It was driving her crazy. Serena drummed her fingers on her desk, and kept shooting glances at the clock by the door. As soon as the period was over, Serena gathered her stuff and walked out the door. She hardly even knew what the teacher was talking about during Chemistry. She had her heart set on finding Selena. Serena went to her locker first and put her stuff inside, and then she began looking for familiar faces, and asked them if they had seen a baby. It was pretty useless, since almost everyone else also had a baby. Serena sighed. It was going to be a long day. ~~ Darien’s POV ~~ Serena stormed out of the classroom before I could even say a word to her. I guess she was busy off to find Selena. Which reminded me, I was the father, and I needed to go find the baby, too. I walked out the classroom and looked around. Where should my target be? I didn’t know. I had no idea. Where did Serena go? Wait. Why did I care? Okay, Codon, don’t think about Serena now, think about Selena, with a L, not a R. Ugh, BUT I JUST COULDN’T GET SERENA OUT OF MY MIND! What was it about her? Why couldn’t I just concentrate on something else? What was it that she got over me? I shook my head, clearing my mind. All right. Now, another target to look for Selena. Hmm. . .maybe the cafeteria. . .since the bench Andrew lost Selena was so close to it. And with that, I was on my way. Serena looked under the tables. Nothing. She put her hands on her hips, and sighed. She was being stupid. Why would Selena be around the cafeteria, anyway? If she was under the table, someone must have picked her up already, why was she looking for her at the cafeteria? Serena shook her head. “I’m going to have to think more clearly next time.” She muttered to herself as she turned around. Just then, someone came in the door. Serena looked up, and gasped in surprise. “Darien, hi! What are you doing here?” Darien smirked. “Hey, Serena. . .what are YOU doing here?” Serena was too tired to say that he didn’t answer her question. “Well. . .I was trying to look for Selena. . .” she trailed off, thinking that Darien must now thought that she was stupid. . .who would look for a baby in the place where everybody eats lunch? But Darien looked stunned. “You-you what?” “I came here to look for Selena. . .I just thought. . .you know, Andrew lost her by the bench over there,” Serena pointed, “maybe Selena is around here somewhere. . .” she forced a smile, “stupid, huh?” Darien shook his head, his face still in a state of shock. “I. . .I can’t believe this. I. . .I came here to look for Selena, too!” “You what?” “Yeah. . .I came here, thinking that Selena must be here somewhere since Andrew lost her at the bench over at that side. . . . .” They stared at each other, amazed. “I guess we think alike, huh?” Darien asked softly, his eyes gazing into hers. “Yeah.” She answered, her voice barely above a whisper. Darien took a step closer. He touched Serena’s cheek with the back of his right hand. Serena felt a shiver running down her spine under his touch. She gazed up to him. “Darien?” “Yeah?” he looked at her closely, question in his eyes. “Why did we hate each other before?” Serena asked in a quiet voice. Darien smiled gently. “I don’t know.” Then he used one hand to lift her chin. Serena stared up at him, not moving an inch. Darien slowly and slowly brushed his lips against hers. Amy sighed. “No, Mrs. Dorea, Darien and Serena didn’t lose their baby on purpose. Andrew was baby-sitting Selena at that time, and he just put Selena down on the bench so he could get a drink by the fountain--” “Because he couldn’t drink while he was holding Selena.” Lita interrupted, coming up with an excuse for Andrew. “--yes, and when he came back, Selena was gone. Zap. Just like that.” Amy finished, looking at Lita, then at Mrs. Dorea. “We were wondering if one of the students took her and thought that someone had lost it, and gave it to you or something.” Lita explained, feeling uneasy at the solemn look on their Health teacher’s face. Mrs. Dorea shook her head. “No, no one came to me about finding a baby. But wait. . .why are you guys telling me this instead of Darien and Serena?” “Because they are too busy trying to find Selena.” Amy answered quickly. Lita nodded in agreement. “Well,” Mrs. Dorea stood up from her desk, “I don’t know. It’s their responsibility to take care of the baby. . .and they lost her.” Lita didn’t say anything. Amy hesitated, then asked, “Are they. . . going to. . . . flunk?” Mrs. Dorea half-smiled. “They are. . .if they don’t find Selena before the end of this week.” “Today is Thursday. . .so that means we only have one more day!” Lita exclaimed, looking at Amy in shock. “Can’t you give us a little more time, Mrs. Dorea? I mean, the school’s so big, and the baby’s so small. . .she could be anywhere.” Amy said quietly, her eyes silently begging. Mrs. Dorea shook her head. “I am being as generous as I can, Amy. If Ms. Juno were here, she would have given Serena and Darien a “F” already.” “If Ms. Juno were here, we wouldn’t have this baby project thing in the first place.” Lita muttered under her breath. Amy elbowed her in the ribs. Lita shot Amy a killer look. Mrs. Dorea wasn’t even aware of this. She walked to the windows. When Amy and Lita noticed that Mrs. Dorea didn’t have anything more to say, they silently, quickly walked out of the room. Once outside, Lita sighed. “Oh, poor Serena and Darien. . .what are they going to do?” Amy didn’t say anything, she just clutched her stomach. “Amy, Lita!” Serena ran toward her friends, gasping for air. Lita ran up and hugged her. “We have bad news.” Serena immediately turned serious. She walked toward her Health class, looked inside, then looked back at Lita and Amy. “Okay. What’s the bad news?” “Well. . .we didn’t find the baby, if that’s what you are wondering right now. . .and, well, Mrs. Dorea said if you don’t find Selena before tomorrow--you guys are going to flunk this class.” Lita said slowly, quietly. She looked at Amy, who was staring at Serena. Serena was quiet for a moment. “Flunk? I haven’t flunked since I got in High School. . .I can’t flunk now, in my senior year.” She whispered to herself. Then she gasped. “Darien! What about Darien? He would be so mad. . .Oh, God, no. . .” “Serena?” Amy asked, concerned. She embraced her friend. Serena hugged Amy back, feeling tears coming into her eyes. She and Darien had just kissed. . .and she thought that everything was perfect just then. . . well, maybe not THAT perfect, but now-now they were going to flunk. A tear rolled down Serena’s cheek. She wiped it away furiously. She couldn’t cry now. . . she wasn’t about to become the crybaby she once was before. “You know, Serena. . .but if you find Selena before tomorrow, you won’t have to flunk.” Lita told her softly. She looked at her friend, giving her a new hope. Serena turned to look at Lita. She nodded slowly. “Yeah. . .but we already looked everywhere! I just. . .” she put her hand to her forehead, “I just can’t think of any place else to look.” She sighed, new tears threatening to come out. “But. . .come on, we can’t give up! It’s baby, it can’t go anywhere by itself! Somebody had to take it!” Amy exclaimed, gesturing the people around her, “maybe it’s one of them. . . . . .you never know.” Serena smiled sadly. “If only we knew which one.” Suddenly the bell rang. “There’s the bell. . .” Amy said quietly. “Well. . .I’m not eating lunch.” Serena said, while putting a hand on the wall beside her for support. She looked at the clock. She definitely didn’t have an appetite to eat anything. Amy and Lita nodded. “Okay, then. . .we’ll see you. . .whenever time there is to see you.” Lita said, giving Serena a hug. Serena held on to her and murmured, “Mmm.” Amy gave Serena an encouraging look, and left with Lita. Serena stared after them, tears streaming down her face. She ran to the nearest restroom, and started to sob. Flunking was her life before she went in High School. . .now that she was in High School, she was a B average student, and she couldn’t afford to flunk a subject in her senior year. Serena sighed. She turned on the faucet and splashed her face with water. “Selena, Selena, Selena. . .where are you?” Serena whispered. Darien grabbed Amy’s arm. “Amy, did you see Serena?” Amy lowered her head. “She said that she wasn’t feeling good, so she skipped lunch.” “Why? What happened?” Darien asked, concerned. Serena? Not feeling good? How was that possible? She was always so cheerful. Darien looked at Amy, waiting for an answer. “It’s because Mrs. Dorea said that if you don’t find Selena soon, you both are going to flunk.” Mina said, joining them. She looked at Lita, “I heard from Lita and Amy, I don’t know anything else.” She added, noticing Darien’s solemn look. Darien nodded his head slowly. “Thanks.” He sighed, and pushed open the cafeteria door. He walked outside, thinking. “Serena's not feeling good because we are going to flunk. . .” he mumbled to himself, feeling down. “God, why am I so stupid? Why did I ever give Selena to Andrew? Now Serena must hate me--thinking I caused it all.” Darien glanced around, looking for the ever so familiar face. “And where is she anyway?” “Excuse me!” Darien, without thinking, stepped outside, not looking at the person who was beside him. A woman, in her forties, wearing an apron passed through, holding something in her arms. She smiled slightly at Darien. “Sorry.” Darien glanced at the woman, and smiled noncommittally. He looked away, thinking where Selena AND Serena could be. As the woman passed by, something caught his eye. Darien snapped to attention. “Wait!” he called out. Darien thought he saw something blue. . .and he recognized that blue. He smiled at the stunned woman, hoping to release the tension. “Um. . .uh, that. . .are you. . .what are you carrying in your arms, may I ask?” The woman broke into a smile. She showed Darien. Darien almost fainted. It was Selena! Darien took a deep breath, and calmed down. “Where-where did you get that? And where are you taking it?” The woman pointed with her finger toward the direction of the cafeteria. “I found it on a bench near the cafeteria. I know that the senior students are having potato babies, and when I was wiping the tables in the cafeteria, I saw this little baby, just sitting over there on the bench, and no one was in sight. So I took it, thinking that someone had lost it or something.” Darien sighed in relief. So that was what happened. “And now, I have some time, because old Patty is sitting in for me, I can take this baby to the Health teacher or something. . .just hope that the ‘parents’ aren’t too worried.” The woman said, winking at Darien. “Actually,” Darien began, “you don’t need to give it to Mrs. Dorea. . . you can give it to me. . .I’m the father.” ___________________________________________ Haha, so they found it! http://fly.to/Moonieround