Three Guys 7

Serenity woke early on the day of the formal, before her alarm even went off. Her body was just too excited to stay asleep. She quickly got out of bed and made chocolate chip pancakes for herself and her mom. 
 
"Well this is a surprise," Kaiya said with a laugh as she sat down at the table. Serenity brought her a cup of coffee before returning to the pancakes. "Who are you and what did you do with my daughter?" 
 
"Mom!" Serenity laughed, sliding the pancakes onto their plates and making her way to the table. "Today's an important day and I'm excited." 
 
"Yes, I know. I'll drive you to your hair appointment and we can get our nails done together," the older woman replied, digging into her breakfast. 
 
"Y-you mean you don't have to work?" Serenity had accepted that her mother was often very busy with work, even now that Kaiba had stopped using her as his personal assistant and now was solely his PR she was still a very busy woman. 
 
"No dear, I had mentioned to Mr. Kaiba that this dinner was coming up and what I wanted to do for you. He told me I could take the day so I'm all yours." 
 
"Mom that's great! This day just keeps getting better." Once they finished breakfast Kaiya sent her daughter upstairs to change while she did the dishes. Serenity wore comfortable clothes; sweatpants and a zip up hoodie so she wouldn't have to worry about messing up her hair or nails later. 
 
***** 
 
She spent all morning at the hairdresser's getting her hair done. Her mother had gone out for a bit while she waited - leaving Serenity at the mercy of a short, round faced woman named Mayu. She gave Serenity a trim, dried her hair and was halfway through curling it when Kaiya returned. 
 
"Where'd you go, Mom?" Serenity asked, glancing at her quickly. 
 
"Just went to pick up something, you'll see." Serenity nodded, promptly receiving a scolding from Mayu for moving her head. 
 
Finally, after what felt like forever, Serenity was handed a mirror and Mayu spun the chair around. Her bangs had begun to grow long, she decided that she liked the way the long piece looked so she let it continue to grow and it hung nicely in front of her face. The little tendrils of hair she had framing her face were curled into soft ringlets while the rest had been pulled into a bun with a tiny braid running through it on either side. 
 
"It's beautiful, thank you," Serenity gushed, looking happily at Mayu who smiled and added a few sparkles. 
 
"I'm glad you like it, Hon." Serenity continued to admire her hair while her mother paid. 
 
"Okay, time to get our nails done." Serenity thanked Mayu one last time before joining her mother. 
 
"So where are we going to get our nails done?" Serenity asked once they were in the car. 
 
"Mrs. Aizawa from work recommended a nice little studio, so I thought we'd go there," she said with a smile. "Oh and that reminds me, open the glove compartment." Serenity looked at her mother confused but did as she was told. In there was a small black box tied with a bow. "Go ahead, open it." 
 
"Mom, it's beautiful," she gasped lifting the small silver ring from the box. In the centre was a larger diamond cut into the shape of a star with smaller diamonds along the side. Along the inside of a band the words 'You are my shining star' were engraved. 
 
"My parents gave me a ring when I finished high school," Kaiya said with a smile. "I thought I should do the same for you." Serenity hugged her mother tightly when they stopped at a light and thanked her before sliding the ring onto the third finger of her right hand and admired it. They drove in a comfortable silence for the rest of the ride, happily listening to the radio. 
 
"Alright this is it," Kaiya said as she finally pulled into a parking lot. Mother and daughter got out of the car and made their way to the small shop. The walls were painted a lovely peach colour and although there were only three manicure tables and pedicure chairs the shop looked very nice. 
 
"You must be the Kawais for 2 o'clock," a tall woman with long, dark hair said, approaching them. 
 
"Yes, I'm Kaiya and this is my daughter, Serenity." 
 
"Perfect, I'm Isuzu and I'll be doing your nails while Hitomi does Serenity's." A second woman joined them, she had short pixie styled hair and a bright smile. 
 
"So what colours are you wanting for your nails?" Hitomi asked as she led Serenity to her chair. 
 
"Um, I was thinking of getting a French manicure with blue instead of white?" 
 
"Sure, you just have a seat." Serenity sat and put her hands on the table, watching the way Hitomi expertly filed and buffed her nails. They engaged in small talk and Serenity told her about the formal she was going to. "Okay, now gently dip your fingers in this bowl," Hitomi told her after she had finished with the polish. "It's ice water, it will dry your nails quicker." Serenity did as she was told, shivering as her fingers hit the cold water, but as Hitomi said when she took her hands out of the water her beautiful blue tipped nails with a touch of silver were no longer at risk of being smudged. 
 
Serenity and her mother were then moved over to the pedicure chairs, while her feet soaked in the warm water and Kaiya chatted with Isuzu, Serenity slipped off into a daydream. 
 
She descended the wide staircase feeling like Cinderella at the ball. She could spot her brother and friends, but no sign of Seth. Then, suddenly someone touched her hand and there he was. He was tall and handsome, with beautiful blue eyes. 
 
"You look beautiful," he whispered in her ear as he lead her to the dance floor. 
 
"Serenity, what do you think of this colour?" Kaiya asked, jerking Serenity from her daydream. She looked at the polish her mother held.  It was a dark red, something she never would have imagined her mother wearing. "It's called 'Short and Sassy' from the Reto Diva collection. Much too bold for my hands, but I thought for my toes, why not?" 
 
"I like it, it's too bad you can't wear colours like that to work." 
 
"It's just not professional. Mr. Kaiba asked that the women not have polished nails because he doesn't want to have to hear anyone complaining about chipping, though those of us on the upper floors are allowed to have French manicures and neutral colours." Serenity looked at her own nails, while she had a French manicure she knew the sapphire blue wouldn't fly and her toes were fully painted in the same shade. It was probably the artist in her, but she loved colours and couldn't imagine not being able to wear them. 

*****

Once the two women were home Kaiya went to fix a light lunch. Serenity picked up the mail, placing most of the envelopes on the coffee table for her mother to look at later when she noticed an official looking brown envelope with her name on it. 
 
"I'm just making sure I have everything ready for tonight," Serenity told her mother as she headed upstairs, the envelope clutched tightly in her hand. The older woman nodded and Serenity hurried to her room, wanting to know what the letter had to say. 
 
Dear Serenity Wheeler, 
 
It is a pleasure to inform you that the Committee of University Scholarships has selected you to be one of the ten students to receive The University of Tokyo Scholarship. This will cover the enrollment fee, tuition and living expenses (up to 126,000 yen a month) for four consecutive years. This award is based on your academic excellence, contributions to the community and the portfolio of work you submitted. 
 
We look forward to having you at our school. 
 
Sincerely, Kenji Watanabe 
 
Vice Chancellor 
 
Serenity sank to her bed and read over the brief letter again and read the second paper that went into details on how she would claim the scholarship. She couldn't believe it, she got the scholarship. 
 
She reached for her phone, planning to call Seth when suddenly she realized something. Her mother, the woman who was going to pay for what her scholarship didn't cover was downstairs while her brother and one of her closest friends were probably on their way over and the first person she wanted to tell was Seth. She remembered something Téa had told her ages ago. 
 
"Téa, you've known Yugi for a really long time, right?" Serenity asked over their milkshakes. 
 
"Yeah, forever almost." 
 
"And you had feelings for him for a while too right?" 
 
"Mhm, a couple years." 
 
"Well when did you know that he was the one for you and it wasn't just a crush or friendship?" Serenity asked, playing with her straw. 
 
"When I got the role of Odette in Swan Lake," her friend answered without hesitation. 
 
"That's random." 
 
"No, see I knew Yugi was the one for me then because getting that role was really important to me and he was the first person I wanted to tell. He was my first call.
Wondering about Tristan?" she asked. 
 
"Yeah," Serenity admitted with a sigh. "I like him, I like him a lot and I just wanted to know how I'd, well, know that he is the one for me. I think he might be. He makes me laugh and is sweet and I know everyone who's close to me likes him as well." 
 
"You'll know when the time comes to make that first call if he's the one for you. If Joey or your mom or Mai and I are your first call then you just might not be ready for love yet. Trust me, the first call is always right." 
 
Serenity sighed, that had been nearly two years ago that she'd had that conversation with Téa. At the time she had honestly felt that Tristan might be the one and that she'd someday be Mrs. Taylor even though they had never 'officially' proclaimed their relationship. Over time however, things changed just like they always did and while she still loved Tristan dearly she felt the same way about him as she did Mai, Téa and the others. He was a very close friend. 
 
Her first call was someone else entirely and that was when it hit Serenity fast and hard, she had fallen in love with Seth. She admitted that she liked him and cared about him, she had even wondered if she might love him, but she had thought of love in the way most girls her age did. It was puppy love. She'd be the first to admit that she had loved Tristan, but she now knew that it was puppy love and while she thought that she might 'love' Seth she assumed it was puppy love as well. Perhaps on some level she was afraid of truly being in love, her mother had loved her father once and look how that turned out.

Serenity sighed and shook her head, clearing her thoughts. Quietly she slid her letter under her pillow, she'd tell Seth tonight when she met him and tell everyone else in the morning. Making her way downstairs Serenity smiled and chatted away about what she knew would be going on that night while she ate what her mom had made for her and waited for Mai and Joey to come.

Serenity sat still and patiently let Mai help her with her make up and get dressed. She posed for numerous pictures with her brother and friend before heading out, all the while keeping her exciting news to herself.

Sitting down to dinner with her friends was nice, she enjoyed catching up with everyone and seeing them all dressed up, but the entire time she was keeping an eye out for the elusive blue iris. Finally she was able to excuse herself and go in search of Seth while the lights dimmed and the dancing began.

Walking through the crowd she looked at everyone's boutinniere, searching for the blue iris. Seth had been right, it was a rare flower. She saw plenty of roses, lilies and a few white irises, but no blue ones. Suddenly she saw it, or at least she hoped it was it. She was passing the balcony and noticed a black jacket draped over the edge with a blue flower. 
 
"Excuse me, but is that a blue iris?" Serenity asked, slowly approaching the man. His back was to her, but the closer she got she was sure that it was an iris. "Seth?" 
 
"Hello Kisa," he said and turned. Serenity could feel her heart pounding as she looked up into the face of the man she had unknowingly fallen in love with. 
 
"I-I don't understand, what are you doing here?" she asked, there had to be some explanation on why Kaiba was there and why he had the same flower she did. 

"I'm Seth." 

"No... You couldn't be, it's impossible. You're joking." 

"You make chocolates for your friends on Valentine's day, you bought me a Shobaihanjo at New Year's, you want to go to the Tokyo University of the Arts and- and you got that dress in Kyoto at the store I suggested, Kuradia Co." Serenity nervously touched the fold of her dress as he spoke.

"No. No, it can't be you. It just can't be," she shook her head, refusing to believe it. There had to be some mistake. "You could never be Seth, he's kind and thoughtful and he cares about people. Y-you're selfish and arrogant and- and mean. All you care about is money and being the best duelist. Y-you've walked all over people to get what you want and never cared, Seth wouldn't do that!" She felt her eyes sting, she turned away and began to leave. 
 
"Kisa, Kisa wait. Serenity." Serenity froze at the sound of her name. 
 
"Y-you know my name?" she asked dumbfounded. She didn't think Kaiba had ever learned her name during Battle City, they had really only spoken that once. 
 
"Serenity, I'm sorry. You were expecting to see someone you trusted and met the enemy instead.  The fault is mine." 

"A-all this time you've known who I was?" she asked turning to face him, she was surprised to see a softness in his eyes that hadn't been there at Battle City. 

"Yes," he admitted with a sigh. 

"I'm so stupid! It was so obvious," she said angrily, cursing how naïve she had been. "You were always working late, my paint set and this dress... The way whenever I had a complaint about my mom working suddenly she-" Serenity gasped, feeling horrible. "I-I said awful, awful things about you... Why did you keep talking to me after that?" 

"My being part of the mentoring program was mandatory. While my grades were more than sufficient to pass I was lacking in 'participation'. The head master of the school gave me strict instructions to be a faithful participant in the program and so I emailed you every night and listened to you talk about your problems and what was going on in your life. I even went so far as to tell you a few things about my own life. Perhaps it was the anonymity I had, knowing that you didn't know who I was and would talk without any biases clouding your judgment, but over time I found a friend in you and I grew to look forward to our talks." 

"I-I know what you mean. I think we grew to depend on each other along the way... And you still accepted me for who I was, despite your relationship with my family." Serenity smiled in spite of herself, her mother's boss, her brother's nemesis and her most trusted friend were all the same person. If he could look past it all so could she. She could hear soft strains of music, the first slow song of the night had apparently begun. 

What if I told you it was all meant to be?
Would you believe me, would you agree?  

"D-did you want to dance?" 

"If you do," Kaiba replied as he slipped his jacket back on. Serenity nodded and he strode into the crowd with Serenity falling in step beside him. He took her hand in one of his own and placed his other on her waist while she stretched up to meet his shoulder. 

"I'm not very good at dancing," she admitted softly. 

"I will lead, all you have to do is follow." 

Its almost that feeling that we've met before so tell me that you don't think I'm crazy when I tell you love has come here and now. 

"You want to know something?" she asked craning her neck to look up at him. He hummed in response which she took as a sign to continue. "I spent all day with my mother, getting our nails done and laughing and all I could think was..." 

"That you finally got the mother/daughter relationship you desired?" Kaiba guessed. 

"No, all I could think all afternoon was I couldn't wait to tell you that I got the scholarship." 

"What?" 

"Mhm. I got the letter this afternoon and it hit me; you're my first call. Ever since this program started you've been the person I wanted to share my news with first. There were times when I felt like things hadn't even happened yet until I told you. I know I'm probably not making much sense and right now I'm all excited about it so I'm not even making sense to me anymore," she said with a laugh. "But I just wanted you to know." 

"Well, if I'm your 'first call', then who are you going to call first about this?" Kaiba asked as her pulled her into a tight hug. "Congratulations, you worked very hard for that. I would like to still be your- your friend after you've gone to Tokyo." Serenity smiled and inhaled the spicy scent of his cologne. Nothing happened like she imagined, but somehow that made it even better.

Some people search a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I cant believe its happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.