Disclaimer: This work is mine but the characters aren't.
Run, that was all she could do. Run as far as she could from him. He was lying to her, he couldn't be telling the truth, otherwise all those nights spent crying and those years spent alone would be for nothing. Her pain had to mean something…
"Hey Serena! What are you doing over here?" Serena turned around to see her good friend Darien. He lived far away from her home.
"Just walking to a friends house," she continued walking, trying to hide her tears behind a curtain of hair. She hoped he wouldn't notice this, but didn't have high hopes. He knew her too damn well.
"Serena, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, just leave me alone," she sobbed, "I have somewhere I have to be."
"Stop. Tell me what's the matter."
"I told you nothing's the matter."
"Fine in you won't spill, I'll just have to find out for myself." He grabbed her backpack and pulled it quickly, but gently off her back.
"Give it back," Serena yelled nervously, she didn't want him to open her bag, which was of course exactly what he did.
He looked into her bag to see clothes, food, water, and a blanket. All the things a person running away would need. Darien closed the bag and looked to his friend.
"You aren't going to a friend's house are you?" he asked slowly.
Serena feeling that it would be pointless to lie shook her head no.
"You're coming home with me, you can tell me what's going on there."
She nodded again and followed Darien to his apartment.
"Now tell me."
"I ran away from home."
"Why don't you just stay in your dorm at school? Aren't you already moved out of your house?"
"Yes well…my parents stopped paying for the dorm and kicked me out."
Although Darien didn't believe this he said, "I'm sorry. You can stay here as long as you need," Serena's parents may put pressure on her to do well in school, but they wouldn't ever kick her out. But until he got the truth out of her she would stay with him.
"I couldn't do that, I'll be fine on my own."
"Yes you can and you won't be fine on your own, not with no money or place to stay, please, I want you to stay, at least until you can get a place of your own."
Serena nodded her agreement while wiping her tears away.
Darien smiled, "Great! Now all we have to do is figure out sleeping arrangements."
"I can sleep on the floor," Serena offered immediately.
"No, you can take the bed," Darien insisted, it was the gentlemanly thing to do.
"Please, I don't want to feel like a burden."
Darien sent her a soft smile, "Fine, we'll alternate."
Serena begrudgingly agreed.
A few days passed without incident until one day Darien got fed up.
"Serena I am fed up with sleeping on the floor."
"Well I offered to always sleep on the floor."
"I know, but I have a better solution. We share the bed, this way we'll both be comfortable."
Serena turned away to hide her blush but nodded her agreement, although she was slightly scared of this situation she didn't actually want to sleep on the floor, force Darien to the floor, or clue him into why she really ran away.
That night both Darien and Serena climbed into the same bed and slept with their backs to each other.
When Darien woke up the next morning he had trouble breathing. He opened his eyes to find Serena's head resting on his chest, her arm draped across his waist, and his arm hugging her close. His cheeks burned as he disentangled himself from Serena.
He went to go make breakfast and ponder this situation they were in. Serena was still refusing to tell him the real reason she ran away. He still remembered the day he confronted her and told her he knew her parents didn't kick her out and he demanded to know why…
"Serena you need to tell me why you ran away."
"I already did, my parents kicked me out."
"Come on Serena, I know you enough to tell when you are lying and I know your parents, they wouldn't kick you out or just stop paying for your schooling."
"I don't have to tell you anything."
"Serena please tell me maybe I can help," he grabbed her hand pleading with her.
She ripped her hand away viciously, "I'm not telling you anything, I think I've overstayed my welcome," she got up to go pack her things.
"Stop. Please stay, I won't ask anymore if you just stay," he desperately wanted to add 'with me', but after her pulling away from a simple touch of the hand from him decided against it.
… She had decided to stay but didn't seem to sure about her choice. But she stayed, that's what was important to Darien. She had stayed with him.
He kept his promise to not ask her about why she ran away, but he couldn't stop worrying about it. She wouldn't run away except for a really good reason.