Way Back Into Love

Prologue

June 1995

People often say that you will never meet your soul mate at the age of seventeen. At least that's what Serena Hunter and Darien Shields had been hearing repeatedly over the last several months. Not that it mattered to either of them what others had to say. When it came to their relationship there was nothing better at giving them advice than their hearts.

The car slowed as it turned the last bend before pulling off the main road and onto a narrow worn dirt path. Music blared loudly out the open windows, breaking the calm of the silence. As the road came to an end, the headlights glinted off the stillness of the lake. The moon's reflection sparkled like a mirror on the surface, a warm change from the bleak darkness of the country roads. A house sat to their right, sounds and lights flooding out the doors and windows.

"It's about time you two finally showed up!"

Both Serena and Darien, bodies stiff from the long drive ambled out of the vehicle and towards the voice. Shielding their eyes from the intense light, they clasped their hands together as they approached.

"Well if your directions hadn't been so vague we probably would have been here as quick as you guys," Serena grumbled stopping at the first step up to the porch.

Raye laughed, taking another sip from her beer she shrugged. "You've been here before, figured you would have remembered." Her eyes on the two of them she stared for a moment. Serena looked down self-consciously, still in her prom dress. "Why haven't you guys changed yet?"

Serena looked from her own formal gown to the tuxedo Darien still wore. The tie and buttons to his shirt undone revealing his white undershirt, but she couldn't help but admire his form in it anyway. "We just got here," Darien breathed running his hands through his hair annoyed. "Don't bother us."

Before Serena had a chance to say anything else Darien was leading her away from the house and towards the beach. "What are you doing?" she gasped as he continued to tug her towards the shore. Raye had disappeared into the house once more, leaving just the two of them out in the night air.

"Being spontaneous," he teased. He stopped turning her to face him; his eyes twinkled in the light of the moon. All other noise seemed to crease as the two stood staring at each other in that moment.

There was no other time that she could remember being this happy. Everything is perfect, she thought brushing a stray strand of hair out of his eyes. He grinned leaning forward, kissing her forehead affectionately. Happiness never seemed so close and attainable before, and yet everybody they knew had been trying to put a damper on them. Change was one of the most inevitable laws of nature, they had said. It happens when you least expect it and can turn the happiest memories into sorrow and pain.

Lately, that seemed impossible for the two of them. They believed they could conqueror anything as long as they had each other. Darien pulled her closer, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her close.

"Do you think life will ever get better than it is now," he breathed inhaling softly. The sounds of music carried down from the house but neither moved. To content with life to be bothered.

Serena stayed quiet for a long while, the words swirling around in her head. "I hope so," she finally answered. He squeezed her causing her to giggle. "I mean, it's only high school. Isn't this when real life is supposed to begin?"

Darien chuckled, it reverberated through her and she couldn't help but smile. "As long as I have you, nothing else matters." She sighed, leaning her head against his chest. Her eyes slide close as she listened to his rhythmic breathing. "I have something for you," he said breaking her silent reflection. He lifted her with his forefinger, until their gaze met. Stuffing his hand in his pocket, he searched for something. A moment later he pulled out a thin gold chain, hanging down in the center was a small heart shaped pendant. Her face immediately lit up at the sight of the necklace, she knew it well. It was the one she had been talking about for weeks, the heart shaped locket she had coveted since she had seen it in the magazine.

"How? Why?" she spluttered, all eloquence gone. He chuckled again reaching over and clasping it easily around her neck.

"I am guessing you like it then," he teased. "You have been talking about nothing else the last couple of weeks." She blushed deeply, glad that they stood in semidarkness sure that he could feel the heat of the blush on her skin. He winked fingering the locket in his fingers, clicking it open he smiled. "Besides now when you go off to New York, you will be carrying me everywhere, so you can remember how much I love you."

Her eyes met his and she leaned forward, their lips meeting in one effortless moment. "I love you," she breathed eyes still closed. They stood there for a long moment, wrapped in each other embrace.

Nothing will ever be the same again, she thought nothing could be better than this.