To say I was thrilled when The Baka left for med school would be an understatement. Four years without torture has sadly come to an end, my nemesis has returned. Yes that's right Dariens four years of med school are over and he has returned to start his residency. Mina and I had stopped at the arcade after our major shopping spree, we had decided that starting college necessitated a new wardrobe. You can imagine my shock and disappointment when I walked into the arcade, after what so far had been a fantastic day, and saw The Jerk occupying the same bloody seat he'd sat in all the years he tortured me for!

"Hey girls," Andrew called, "look who's back!" Like I needed him to point it out. Though he sounded excited and I guess I was happy Andrew had his best friend back. I watched in horror as that oh so familiar form turned to face us. I felt his gaze almost like a brand as his eyes swept over me. Would you believe he's better looking than when he left. Yes I know it's hard to imagine and it certainly isn't fair but he is.

"Well I guess I can't call you meatball head anymore." He drawled and his voice sent shivers up my spine. I'll never admit it but I had missed his voice. I forced a smile and gave myself a mental shake before walking forward.

"Hey Darien it's been a while." I could be civil. I liked to think I'd grown up a little, not a lot but a little.

"Quite a while, Andrew tells me you and Mina start college tomorrow. What are you taking?"

"Just general Arts and Science for now."

"I wish you luck." I had to fight down the urge to take that the wrong way. Like I needed luck! But I took a deep breath and convinced myself he hadn't meant it as a dig. See I had grown up.

"You looking forward to school Mina?" He finally acknowledged to other blond.

"Shit yeah, do you know how many hot guys there are?" I couldn't help it I joined Darien in laughing at her statement.

"I see you haven't changed." Darien chuckled.

"I gotta get going, I'll see you guys later." Darien said as he stood. "Bye Drew." He called. When he reached the door he turned back. "What do you think of bunny?"

"Huh?" I asked, he seemed to be talking to me.

"Your new nickname." Then he left. I watched Mr. tall dark and sexy through the window till he was out of sight. I mean shit men like that just didn't go to high school, and if they had I'd have said it should have be illegal. It should be illegal now! Looking that good just isn't fair to the opposite sex. But Darien had walked back into my life; tall, broad shouldered and so handsome it was almost painful. Face full of clean angle, the hair that still fell messily into his eyes was the deepest ebony and those eyes! The grayish-blue of the ocean before a storm sliding into a blue that was nearly black. His eyes were still his best feature, or maybe his lips. No, stop right there, I refuse to think about Dairens lips!

I tried to put Darien out of my mind and enjoy the rest of my last day of freedom but it was hard. At least he'd been nice, which truth be told was rather disconcerting. I didn't know what to do with a nice Darien. Before I'd always been able to use my anger to keep form noticing just how good looking he was. Imagine my dismay to discover that anger was gone! Rei would get a kick out of this! I left the arcade early using the pretext of getting ready for tomorrow, headed home and did exactly that which took all of 15 minutes. Afterwards I paced, thought about Darien, tried not to think about Darien, half convinced myself that I didn't care that he was back and then threw myself onto my bed with the intention of losing myself in a book. It wasn't long before I fell asleep.