Love's Got A Hold On My Heart Chapter 1 By: Jessica M. Moonflower E-mail: salud731@earthlink.net Rated: G Disclaimer: As usual I do not own Sailor Moon. Don't we all wish we did though? ^ - ^ AN's: Hi people! For anybody who read A New York Romance, I am not going to continue writing it, because I'm just not happy with the plot. And I want to apologize to Lelu again for the whole title mishap. Sorry Lelu! Well, I want to say that I got this title from a song on a CD I have, which the name of the group is called Steps. Now for a short summary. Serena is a food critic that works for the New York Times. She has a crappy love life and the worse luck with men. She does this review for a restaurant owner(can you guess?) named Darien. The first time he sees her, he tries to win her heart, but rejects him. Do you think she'll give him a chance? ^ - ^ One more thing, Serena, Mina, Lita, Amy, and Raye are 26 and Darien, Andrew, Ken, Greg, and Chad are 27. -----<------@ -------<-----@ ------<--------@ --------<-------@ ------<------@ -------<-----@ ------<------@ "Lita, have you seen my briefcase anywhere?" asked Serena Lawson, as she ran all over the apartment like a crazed lunatic looking for her briefcase. "No! Where did you last have it?" called Lita James from the bathroom. "How should I know? That's why I'm asking you to begin with," Serena called back, still trying to find her missing briefcase. Serena Lawson is a beautiful, blond woman with hair that reached a little past her shoulders, sparkling azure eyes, and has a height of 5"7. She works as a food critic for the New York Times and is the most dreaded food critic by all restaurant owners in New York. Serena is a very picky eater, and if the food is not seasoned right or is just plain awful, she bombards you with so much criticism that will make your head spin. She shows no mercy in her articles. If she doesn't like something, she lets you know. There are a very few restaurants that receive praises from her. Serena shares an apartment with her longtime friend Lita James. She is a long haired brunette, with a height of 5"9, and emerald green eyes. Lita is a restaurant owner herself and head chef. Her restaurant is called the Green Forest Cafe. Her restaurant has a forest theme look with many exotic plants. Besides the beautiful surroundings of the restaurant, her food was simply delicious and scrumptious. Many New Yorkers flocked to the Green Forest Cafe for lunch or dinner. Serena was the one to do a review on her friend's fancy cafe, which got a great review from Serena. Lita did not receive the great review just because she and Serena are friends, but because her cooking was always good and she earned the praise based on that. Serena was already frustrated by then when she still couldn't find her briefcase. " I know it's around here somewhere," said Serena agitatedly. "Calm down Serena," Lita soothingly said. "Ranting and raving isn't going to get you anywhere." "I know, but I need my briefcase. It contains my typed up review on that French bakery in there. The deadline for my review is today. If I don't hand it in today, I'm screwed!" "Look, sit down and eat this breakfast I made you and I'll go find your briefcase," said Lita, as she led Serena to the kitchen counter. "Thanks Lita," Serena said, as she settled herself down on a nearby stool. As Serena was eating her breakfast and Lita trying to find Serena's briefcase, the doorbell rang. "Who is it?" asked Lita. "It's Mina," said the person on the other side of the door. "Hey Mina! What are you doing here?" asked Lita, as Mina Sanders came in. "I thought Serena might need this for work," Mina said, as she held up a black leather briefcase. "My briefcase!" Serena exclaimed, as she ran over to Mina to retrieve it. "You're a lifesaver! I've been looking all over for it this morning!" "It was nothing. Anyway, you left it at our place when you and Lita came over last night," said Mina. Mina Sanders is a long haired blond, with sky blue eyes, and is the same height as Serena. Mina works as a professor at New York University. She is a smart, successful professor, who is married to Andrew Sanders. Serena, who is still happy that Mina had her briefcase all along, began to thank Mina profusely. "Thanks so much Mina!" Serena said as she hugged Mina tightly. "Really Sere it was nothing," Mina choked out, trying to gasp for air. "Now could you please let go of me so I can breathe!" "Oh, sorry Mina," Serena sheepishly said, as she loosened her death grip on her friend. "Why are so emotional over a briefcase anyway?" asked Mina. "Oh, it contains her review on a bakery she did," answered Lita. "Well, if I don't hand in my review by today, my boss would have my neck," said Serena. "Well, that's not all he's going to have if we don't get going," Lita said, looking at her watch. "Don't just stand there like a lump! Let's go already," said Serena, grabbing her jacket and pushing her friends out the door. "Do you guys want a lift in my car? I could pick you up also after I take care of a few things down at the university, if you want," suggested Mina, as they took the elevator down to the lobby. "Sure," said both Serena and Lita. As Mina was driving, she started asking Serena questions about the guy she has recently been dating. "So, how are you and David getting along, Serena?" asked Mina. "What do you mean?" asked Serena casually. "I mean, do you think this is someone you might actually consider wanting to get to know better," said Mina. "Please Mina. You know me by now. I'm very fickle when it comes to dating guys," Serena said, shocked that Mina could ever think that she would ever consider to seriously be interested in any guy on this planet. "But Serena, don't you get tired of going from one guy to the other? Not actually considering to get to know him more?" asked Lita. "Lita's got a point, Serena. You should be willing to give some of these guys a chance. You barely give them a chance to show you what they're like and you don't open yourself up to them to let them know the real you. You can't toy with people's emotions and kick them to the curb when you get bored or lose interest. Men have feelings too. Just like we do. I mean, put yourself in their place. I'm sure you don't want a guy to do that to you." "I just can't find someone who will actually keep me interested, that's all. After the first date, I'm already bored with him and I don't think I can survive a second date with the same guy. It'll probably be even more worse than the first date." "What are you afraid of?! Serena, Mina and I have tried to fix you up with several guys we know. SEVERAL! And not one of them has "caught your interest," as you say. Some guys dared to ask you out on a second date, but you spurn them in seconds flat! Are you afraid of getting your heart broken if you get close to a guy? Is that it? Because me and Mina give up already." "Look, I don't want to talk about it! I already have a bad love life as it is. In the past and even now. I used to believe in those fairy tale romances where the prince woos the princess, they fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after. But it seems like every guy I choose ends up being this major jerk or a dimwit who barely has half a brain to begin with. I guess I'm not meant to have a romantic relationship. Besides, I hardly have time for love or romance anyway. I have too many deadlines on articles and road trip assignments to really have any romantic relationship at all. I have fully committed myself to my work," stated Serena. "Serena, you can have a career and a love life at the same time. I'm just as busy as you are. I have papers to grade, tests to make up, and I always have to figure out how to make up my lectures for these classes. It seems like I hardly have time for Andrew, but we make it work out. We try to set up days where we can just relax and be together. Our compromising has made our marriage work. I'm successful and happy at the same time. You can do the same thing too," said Mina. "But you and Andrew are perfect for each other, practically meant for each other. You found someone worth to keep. Me, I cannot find a descent guy in this world," said Serena, a little depressed. "Don't say that Serena," Lita said, trying to console her depressed friend. "You just haven't found the right guy yet, that's all. When the right guy comes along, it'll hit you when you least expect it. Almost like lightning." "Really guys I'm fine. I don't need a guy in my life. I've got my family, you guys, Raye, and Amy. Who needs love? I don't," Serena firmly said. "If you say so Serena," Mina said, a little unsure of her friend's statement. Throughout the entire drive, everybody remained silent. Serena was the first one to be dropped off to work. "So, we'll meet you in front of the building?" asked Mina as Serena got out of the car. "That'd be fine," said Serena. "Anyway, Raye is going to join us for dinner along with Amy, but Amy we'll meet us at the restaurant." "That'd be great!" said Mina. "I haven't seen Raye or Amy in a while, since I'm too busy planning to open my own chain of restaurants." said Lita. "Well, you guys get to catch up," said Serena smiling. "I guess I better get going. Bye you guys!" "Bye Serena," both Mina and Lita said. When Mina's car was out of sight, Serena entered the building to start another long day at work. That's it for the first chapter! I hope you like it and I hope it's a little better than my last first attempt story(for those of you who read it!). Please e-mail me! I love getting e-mail! Give this first attempt writer some feedback! Anyway, my inbox gets really lonely! Again, please take it easy with the flames. I'm new at this and don't criticize me yet until I at least get a few more chapters of this story out.