Hey all, here is a new mini project. It's not going to be too long. I hope you enjoy it. I'm working on Under the White Sky, I am, I just hit a road block in terms of motivation. I'll get there though. Enjoy and REVIEW!
Summary
Serena and Darien are in trouble. Their relationship is crumbling and now they have to spend a few weeks at Serena's parent's house for the holidays. Faced with Serena's close family the pair will have to address the issues between them. A little help never hurts either.
Here We Go Again
Serena sighed as she zipped her bag shut and stared at the open bag next to it. It was empty only because the future contents were neatly surrounding it. There were several outfits folded neatly in stacks, underwear, socks, and various male grooming products. She smirked. Of course he would organize everything this way. That was how he coped with the chaos of travel. A little bit of order and predictability to the messy goings on around the bag.
She turned towards the bathroom to address the subject of her current thoughts only to see him walking out with the remainder of what he wanted. No words were spoken as he set the items down in the appropriate place and took a step back to survey his work. With a slight nod he began to arrange the items into his luggage bag with great care and concentration.
She wanted to ask him why he packed in such a way but she knew that if she did he was going to make some snarky comment. He'd gotten very little sleep and was currently operating on two hours and three pots of coffee. A combination that always made him impatient and irritable.
"I don't know why we are doing this." He said aloud and with a tired tone as he finished his work and grabbed the zippers. "Why lie?" His midnight blue eyes fixed on her cerulean ones and for a moment, she didn't have an answer. What could she say?
Of course, there was one reason she could think of. "It's Christmas, that's why." She sighed and felt a well of emotion hit her. The truth was, that she wanted to draw this out as much as possible. She wasn't happy but she didn't want it to end. "After the holidays we'll continue on with our plans, just please, let's just get through Christmas and New Years?" She looked at him with hope.
"So, happy face then?" He smiled with fake conviction and it broke her a little more. "Why can't you just go and be with your family for the holidays and let me do what I need to do? Prolonging our break up just to fake being happy for the holidays is stupid Serena. We don't want to be together anymore so let's just end it."
"I don't want to get sympathizing looks from my family! That's why Darien! For Christ's sake, why can't you see something my way for ONCE?" She shouted with tears in her eyes. She did want out of her relationship though she suspected that she was just eager to get rid of her problems. Ending the relationship was easier then enduring it.
"Fine! You win!" He snapped and pulled the zippers of the bag closed with anger. He didn't understand it. He didn't understand her. He worked all day and sometimes through the night helping others and what did he get when he got home? Her on his ass about going places, doing things, and her whining about him not being home when she wanted him home. Not that she really needed him there. Whenever he was home they would just sit there together. He was sick of everything. He had started sleeping in the dorms at work to avoid coming home. Then, when he would come home late due to the hours he kept, he would sleep in the guest room so he wouldn't wake her and risk her anger. She was always angry with him. He wanted the old her back, the bubbly, happy, energetic woman who just wanted to please him and love him.
Serena held back her tears and glared at him. He had that dreamy look in his eyes again. Likely thinking about whoever he was screwing. Oh, she knew that when he didn't come home he was out with some woman. She hadn't found any evidence yet but that was just because he was smart and careful about it. One day she would find out who it was that ended their relationship but until then all she could do was walk away and leave him alone. That was all he wanted after all. He wanted this place to himself, clearly, because he didn't want to spend time with her. He didn't sleep with her any longer and he never touched her anymore. She would hardly ever see him then when he was home and all she wanted to do was have a day in with him he would get irritated with her. Sure, she wanted to go and do things but he always seemed so tired and she figured that he would enjoy the rest. Apparently not.
So here they were, on the verge of their breakup and they were going to her family's house for Christmas. They had gone every year since they started dating and now, the fourth time would be the last time. After they returned they were going to go their separate ways and she wasn't sure where she would go. Maybe she would move somewhere completely different. Who knew?
"Well, I'm going to get some rest before our flight if you don't mind." Darien grabbed both of the bags and carried them to the entryway before returning to the bedroom and laying atop the bed. She nodded and stood in place for a while. She wanted to lie next to him but knew that it would just annoy him and keep him up. Besides, she needed to wake him in order to be on time to the airport.
Maybe she could use this time to go through his text messages to see if any women were texting him regularly. If she found the proof she knew he was hiding she would have more reason to leave him. With that in mind she turned and left the room walking to the kitchen counter where his phone lay.
Grabbing the object she glanced towards the bedroom and pushed the power button to illuminate the screen. Swiping the screen to bring up the home screen she tapped on the text message icon and smiled as the conversations popped up. She scrolled through the conversations and stopped when she saw one name. Raye. Raye was HER friend, so why would she be texting Darien?
With a shaky sigh she tapped open the conversation to see the short exchange between her boyfriend and her best friend.
Raye: hey wat r u dng?
Darien: wrk
Raye: th txtng?
Darien: brk tm
Raye: when u off? Wnt 2 go 2 dnnr? We need 2 tlk
Darien: Off 9 & sure
The conversation ended there but she finally had her answer. Not only was he cheating, but he was cheating with one of her closest friends. How could they do that to her?
At least it was official, she had confirmation now. It was obvious what was happening. Darien had been cheating with Raye. That explained the long nights, the times he didn't come home, all of it. When did everything go to hell like this? She wasn't sure when everything changed but it sure had.
She was in a daze as she placed his phone back in its place. It was certain, after the trip home they were going to go their separate ways. She had had enough of this. Enough of him breaking her heart. No more. She would not sit idly by as he insulted her with his escapades. She didn't blame him really. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He was smart, driven, rich, and a caring doctor. He was everything she had wanted. Hell, he was everything any woman would want.
While he was everything a woman could want, she had very little to offer a man like him. She wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world, she was childish, selfish, and far too emotional for anyone's good. She wasn't entirely sure how she had managed to finagle him into dating her in the first place. He was a god among men and she was… pitiful. Raye was much more of a match for him. She was tall, with ebony hair and violet eyes. Her skin was tanned, she had all the right curves in ample amounts, and she was smart. Raye was everything desirable in a woman. What man wouldn't want her?
One thing was certain, the next two weeks were going to be hell. They were going to have to act like nothing was wrong. Maybe he was right. It was stupid to think that they should do this but it was too late. Her parents were expecting both of them. Not just her.
That was another thing that broke her heart. Her parents loved him and when she did break the news to them they were going to be devastated. Her mother had been asking her for the past two years when Darien was going to propose. She wondered that herself. She had wanted Darien to propose to her, she had wanted it for a long time now. It was just as well that they were growing apart.
Serena sat on the couch, dazed and a little distraught of what was happening. She had to keep it together though. She had to buck up and just smile through it. Somehow she would manage. Somehow she would get through this and then he could have Raye. He could come back here, have her move in and be his happy little home maker.
Darien yawned as he stepped out of the bedroom and into the living room. Serena had a sad and forlorn look on her face. She was sitting on the couch staring at the floor with that look. "You didn't wake me." He offered in a calm manner while reminding her that she had not kept her commitment to wake him. She was upset about something that was for sure.
She finally looked at him and in that moment fear struck him. Their break up had been more of a talking point than an actual possibility he had hoped that she would not leave in the end. Now looking into her eyes it seemed final somehow. She had resigned herself to leaving him. It took his breath away to think that it was final.
Serena stood and sighed a large sigh. "Well, we had better get going. We have two happy weeks to get on with." She smiled a smile that defied the pain in her eyes. He could not think of any words to say that would comfort her.
"Okay then. Off we go to Colorado. Where it's cold and snowy." He smirked as he thought about Serena's small home town. It was a town of five thousand people where everyone knew everyone else and their business. He could understand why Serena wanted to keep up the façade that they were fine. If they called it off now, amidst the holidays, people would talk. He could do this for her. He could be brave for her. All he ever wanted was to make her happy. If saying goodbye would do that then he would go quietly. He didn't know what had changed, but it was clear she didn't love him anymore.
He wished she did love him still. He had worked so hard to get where he was. He was experienced now. He was the top physician and surgeon in the nation and now was the time for him to open his own practice. He wanted to settle down with her and live life. He was tired of working so tirelessly. Tired of never being there. But then, she didn't want him there anymore.
Silently he picked up the bags and opened the door to the apartment. "Let's go then."
