Serena was not sure when it started, when the arguments became less about being mad and more about a way to connect with him. Her friends did not understand why they acted the way they did. She often wondered what it was about her that set him off, and vice versa. He was perfectly cordial to her friends, and he had a few friends of his own, so she knew he wasn't an abysmal guy, but, for whatever reason, they just couldn't get along.
Sure, it was kind of ok when she was younger; being a fourteen-year-old allowed her to be somewhat childish, but how could an eighteen-year-old college student act the same way? But now she was a twenty-year-old college student and he was almost done with medical school and still, they fought like cats and dogs.
The familiar chime of the arcade doors brought her out of her reprieve and she took a minute to scan the arcade as she slipped off her sunglasses. Her friends thought that meeting at the arcade was immature, but she insisted that they come back at least once a month, if only to remind them about their past and to help them unwind from the pressures of college. Plus, she got to see her friend, and new owner of the arcade, Andrew and, if she was really lucky, he would be there too.
Since she appeared to have arrived first, something that was happening more and more the older they got, she made her way to the counter, smiling brightly at the blonde man behind the bar.
"Serena! It's so good to see you!" Andrew gave one of her trademark ponytails an affectionate pull before reaching for a blender. "Chocolate milkshake?"
"No thanks Andrew, but a cup of hot tea would be lovely." She had starting drinking her favorite chocolate drink less and less, trading it for a warm caffeinated drink instead.
"Do my ears deceive me or did Meatball Head just refuse a milkshake? The world must be ending!" The sultry voice sent goosebumps along her arms like they did every time, but her powder pink long sleeve shirt hid them exceptionally well. She felt that familiar spark of annoyance, along with the as familiar jolt of excitement. She cleared her throat and turned to look at the dark haired man that was now seated next to her.
"Unlike some people, I do like to mix up what I drink." Serena mentally patted herself for her calm response. She was determined to change the nature of their 'relationship', even if it was just to make it so people could be around them without worrying that they would get into a screaming match.
Darien raised an eyebrow at her calm response and felt something tighten in his stomach. He thought for sure that would get a response from his sparring partner, but today she seemed to be unusually calm.
"I've only got Earl Grey, is that ok? Oh! Hey Darien, the usual?" Andrew greeted his darker counterpart warmly as he slid Serena a large mug of hot water with a tea bag already steeping in it and a spoon resting on the saucer.
"It's perfect, thank you," she replied at the same time that Darien said, "I would, thanks man." Darien glanced at the small blonde, waiting for a retort, surprised again as she just played with the tea bag, pulling a couple of sugar packets towards her. Serena saw Darien looking at her from the corner of her eye, but she kept her gaze on her cup of tea. Although it was like second nature now to retort to his snarky remarks, she fought the urge and kept her composure.
Well I am six years older than I was when we first met, she thought as she moved her cup from the saucer, drained the tea bag and added sugar before taking a small sip. With it still too hot at the moment, she placed it on the counter, finally looking up at the man who seemed to be ignoring the coffee in front of him and, instead, was studying her as if she were something out of one of his medical textbooks that he couldn't figure out.
"So, I hear that this is your last year of medical school before you start your residency. Any idea which hospital you might get paired with?" Darien was now staring at her, mouth slightly agape, clearly stunned at what she just said.
"I, uh, I don't know. I'm hoping Tokyo General but I could be paired with any number of hospitals." He wasn't sure what the blonde was doing, but he had to admit that it was kind of nice not being at each other's throats already, but he did miss her angry face, with her nose scrunched in that cute way it did when she was especially frustrated.
You are a grown man Shields, and she is a grown woman, perhaps she just got tired of your juvenile antics, as she should be, he thought as he sipped his black coffee.
"I didn't realize you knew so much about the medical programs and how they worked Meatball Head." He winced slightly, hoping his tone wasn't as insulting as it sounded in his head. To his surprise (she was surprising him a lot today), she gave him a small smile after an initial eye roll at his continued use of the nickname he gave her when they had first met.
"Amy is in the medical program and she likes to give us little updates. I think she's proud to have to be in school another three or four years where as the rest of us can't wait to be done. She wants to go into brain surgery like her mother but I think she'd be better doing something with kids, considering her quiet and calm nature. What about you? What's going to be your focus?"
Darien still wasn't sure how it happened, how just a few months ago they were in one of their usual arguments, much to the dismay of their friends, and now they were chatting like they have been friends for years instead of enemies. He found himself telling her about his desire to go into pediatric care, specializing in traumatic cases. He didn't tell her why that field specifically, and she didn't ask, but she did ask questions about his residency and what all it entailed. Though neither would openly admit it, they found this new way of talking much better than the yelling, along with many of the patrons who were familiar with their shouting matches, Andrew most of all.
Their conversations drifted to different topics as time passed, him going through four cups of coffee and her two large teas before she noticed the time.
"Holy cow, are they really an hour late?!" Serena exclaimed, digging around in her purse for her phone. To her shock and dismay, she had no missed calls or messages from her friends and, sure enough, as she looked around the arcade, none were anywhere to be found.
"You mean you didn't come here just to talk with me," Darien couldn't help but tease.
"As much as I enjoyed your company Baka, I was planning on spending some time with the girls. Looks like they all forgot though."
Darien didn't have to ask who the girls where, knowing it was the same four that she had been friends with since he met her six years ago, but he was surprisingly as upset at hearing that they had stood her up as she seemed to be. Suddenly Andrew appeared, and noting the blonde's down face, asked what was wrong. Once again shocking him, Serena plastered on a fake smile and told Andrew that nothing was wrong, just that she had not realized how much time had passed and that she was expected home shortly. Andrew accepted the lie and waved away her money, telling her to get home safe.
As Andrew ducked in the back, taking some dirty dishes with him, Serena stood, retrieving her purse from the back of her chair and slipping it over her shoulder. Not sure what possessed him to do it, Darien reached out and caught her forearm as she turned to go. She twisted to look at him, her cornflower blue eyes wide in shock and her head tilted slightly in a questioning manner. He felt his chest tighten slightly, as it normally did when he saw her face all flushed from an argument. If he thought she was cute when she was upset, she was downright adorable when she was nice to him.
"I'm sorry none of the girls showed. I hope they have some damn good excuses for bailing on you." For a second he wondered if he had overstepped some line but was glad to see that a real smile appeared on her face, even if it was a small one.
"Thanks Darien. They all probably got stuck with some school project or family matter or something. It's just been so long since we just hung out that I was hoping they'd be able to make it."
"Don't you guys hang out here at least once a month?"
"Yes, we do, but know what we talk about every time? School. There is always someone with a paper or a project and since we all have different fields we can't really help, but that doesn't stop us from trying, especially with Lita. I'm always happy to help her with taste testing her latest cooking concoction." The couple shared a laugh, and, as the laugh faded, he realized that he was still holding her arm. He gave it a gentle squeeze and awkwardly dropped his hand into his lap.
"Well, still. I think they should have at least called. Be safe going home, Meatball Head," Darien said, tacking on his nickname for her almost as an afterthought. Serena shook her head and smiled at him and, on impulse, and feeling happy about how their talk went despite the fact it wasn't planned, she leaned down and brushed her lips against his right cheek.
"I know. Thanks again Baka. See you later." And with that, she was gone. When she was out of view of the arcade, she leaned against a wall, her hands cupping her flushed face. She was still upset that the girls had bailed, but overall she was happy how things had progressed. Neither of them had yelled and actually had a decent conversation. Too bad none of her friends had been there to see that, especially Raye who, even though it had been years, still had a little thing for Darien and could never understand why Serena and him couldn't get along. Nor why he seemed to always direct his attention to the blonde, even though they only seemed to just fight.