It was a clear day as he walked down the country road. He took in the ease of the nature around him that cleared his mind from the stresses of work and the upcoming wedding. For some reason he was having second thoughts about his future wife. She didn't act as she used to. Or maybe he was so blinded by lust that he didn't seem to notice before. One thing was for sure, he did not love her and now wasn't even sure if he ever did.

He was deep in thought about this when he heard someone scream, "Watch out!" and before he could turn to see what was happening he found himself on the grass. He looked up to see two eyes as blue as the sky staring at him. He was lost in the beauty of her eyes and face that he did not hear her talking to him.

"Hey, hey, are you okay?" she asked as she rolled off of him. He was finally snapped back and slowly realized where he was.

"What? Oh yeah, I'm fine."

"I'm sorry I tackled you so hard, but you were about to step on that hornet's nest." She pointed toward the road.

"What? Wow. I didn't even see it. Thank you." He sat up on his elbow and saw the small nest with large hornets hovering around.

Her eyes suddenly changed to a scared expression. "Do you think we can move somewhere else? I'm really scared to be around these hornets."

"Oh yeah. Sure," he blushed when he realized that he had been staring at her the whole time.

She smiled and helped him up and they hurried down the road. They walked silently for a little bit, stealing glances at each other, until she broke the silence.

"So what brings you here? I don't think I've ever seen you around here."

He responded with a smile, "Oh I needed to get away for a little while so I drove out here. What about you?"

She smiled which made him feel warm inside. Wow her smile is amazing. She gave him a sideways glanced as she answered, "I always come out here because I love to be surrounded by the trees and nature and everything. The beauty of it can make you forget about anything-." He admired the way she talked about such simple things. She talked passionately and there was something in her soft voice that was and almost melody-like that it made him forget about his troubles. "-But then I saw that hornet's nest and freaked out. I was about to turn and leave, but then I saw you. You looked like something was bothering you and you didn't seem to be aware of it. I knew you were going to step on it so I came running."

He stopped to look at her, "Thank you for that. That wouldn't have helped my day." He admired how she could overcome her fear in order to help him out.

She looked up at him with sincere eyes, "If you don't mind me asking, what was bothering you so much?"

He looked at her and studied her caring face and noticed how her expression was true and her eyes never left his, "I was just having some stresses at work and needed to get away." For some reason he didn't want to mention the fact that he had a fiancé.

She smiled and glanced away as they continued walking. They were coming up on a small clearing through the trees that made way to a small meadow.

Gosh I love it when she smiles. "I know what you mean. This place just makes it seem that everything is going to be alright after all."

He stared at her admiringly. Despite her smile there seemed to be sadness hidden in her beautiful face.

"What about you? Why do you need to come out here?"

She looked into his ocean blue eyes as she spoke, trying to hold on to her smile with little luck, "I come out here to forget-," her eyes turned away from him as a deep sadness set in them. The pain in her eyes made him hurt for her. How is this possible? I don't even know her. "-to forget the one who has hurt me."

She broke away from him as she walked over to a large rock that sat by the edge of a small stream. She sat down and stared at the gently moving water with her thoughts running through her mind. He found himself following her without thinking and sat next to her. He surprised himself by putting his hand on her back in order to try and comfort her. She welcomed his touch and presence and looked at him again leaning into him more.

He looked down into her deep sky blue eyes. He brushed a blonde strand of hair out of her face, "Do you want to talk about it? I know you don't know me, but for some reason I feel like I need to do something to help you. You helped me after all."

She smiled which surprised him after how sad she had looked. "I think I should know your name before I tell you anything. I usually don't pour my soul out to strangers.

He smiled back, which made her heart flutter, "My name is Darien. May I ask what your name is?"

"Serena."

Serena, he repeated to himself, it fits her perfectly.

He held out his right hand, "It's nice to meet you Serena."

Her touch was soft and sent electric shock waves into his body. What is happening? Why am I feeling like this?

She took a deep breathe and turned her attention back to the stream. "I'm not sure where to begin…The one who hurt me happened to be my best friend. We were always together and had so much fun. Secretly we were both in love, but never wanted to ruin our friendship so we didn't mention anything. But I went away to school and we didn't see each other as often and when I came back, I guess I thought we would continue to where we left off. But I was very wrong."

His eyes never left her face. He watched as her face saddened more with each increasing moment and saw her lips tremble as she tried to keep herself from crying. Her painful expression made his heart heavy and he began to wonder who could ever break this girl's heart. He couldn't take her sad eyes any longer so her held up a hand to try and stop her.

"Please," he said softly, "you don't have to continue."

She looked up at him again with her eyes still full of sadness and gave a weak smile. "But I want to." She looked away again and continued. "I know I don't know you very well, but for some reason I feel I can talk to you and you would understand how I feel. I have never told this to anyone, but you are so easy to talk to."

Darien braced himself for the rest.

"When I came back he acted very differently from what I was used to. He was more touchy feely than usual and came close to…" she hesitated, "let's just say touching me where I'm not used to. I tried to ignore it and thought I was just imagining it, but as time went on he really began to grope me and started sticking his hands inside my shirt and kissing me. At first I was too shocked to move or do anything, but I snapped out of it and shoved him off of me. The next time I saw him he acted as if nothing was wrong and tried to do it again, trying to force himself on me even more. I couldn't believe he would do that to me and I felt I could no longer trust anyone so I found a place to escape."

She didn't look up when she finished, but Darien's face held an angered expression and before he knew it his arms were around her and her head rested on his chest. I seemed natural to them both to be embraced together as if they had known each other their whole lives.

His cheek rested against her silky blonde hair, "Not everyone is like that Serena."

She looked up at him with her eyes glistening with unfallen tears. "I know. You would never do that to anyone Darien."

Without thinking, Darien's hand rose to caress her cheek softly as he lowered his lips to hers and lightly kissed her. A tear in each eye escaped as she kissed him back.

The moment passed perfectly and they remained in each other's arms until she spoke softly to break the silence. She looked up at him with her blue eyes that made him melt. "Darien I cannot thank you enough for your company. I have never met anyone as caring as you before. As much as I don't want to, I must be going. It's getting late."

She rose to leave, and his heart dropped as he watched her turn. No I can't let her go. I have never felt this way about anyone. I have to see her again!

"Serena wait!" he found himself jumping up, frightened to lose her.

She turned around and faced him with her long blonde hair blowing softly in the wind. His breath left him for a moment as he admired her beauty from afar. She looked like a goddess in blue jeans with her hair blowing like it did.

"Can I see you again?" he pleaded with his eyes, words, and heart.

She saw to his heart, through his ocean eyes and felt the same yearn to see him again and smiled. "If you're willing to wait for me to be done with some work or unless you want to help me."

He walked over to her and gently took her hands in his and looked deeply into her eyes. He softly said, "I would do anything to be able to see you again."

She blushed under his gaze and softly pulled away before anything happened. She smiled up at him, "I'll see you tomorrow at the stables. They are down at the end of this road, and I should be there all day."

He smiled as he watched her walk away with her hair softly blowing in the wind. She looked as if she was almost gliding. I will count the minutes until I get to see you again Serena.