PALPITATIONS
by Gorecki
uploaded: 03.18.2003
Rated R
chawklit@hotmail.com
-----
It was a usual lazy Saturday; and as usual, she sat comfortably at Le Cafe doing some paperwork for school. The cafe was ideal for Serena, located across the theater and near the coast. It was her favorite place to work in, more so than that overly popular Starbucks cafe.
Working at a relaxed pace for a couple of hours now, she paused in her writing to wave another order of poppy seed loaf and water to Hendrick. The attentive and amiable waiter was almost like an elder brother to her. Of course it helped that she had been going to this same spot for almost a year now.
Checking her watch, she noted that sunset was nearing. That was one of the things she looked forward to every saturdays -- The sight of the breathtaking sun falling into the coast as the moon rose to replace it. It was the best consolation she could ever get for three hours of tirelessly reading econometric methodologies. She didn't particularly care about multivariate statistics, quintile regressions and decompositions. Sometimes, Serena wondered why she was even taking up economics. Thesis was excruciating, but she had never backed away from a challenge. And economics was just that; a tough, complex, and grueling challenge.
Just in time, Hendrick approached carrying her food. "Here ya go, Sere."
"Much thanks, rick!" she responded kindly as she took a long swallow from her water bottle.
"It's almost sunset" he cheerily informed her, looking at the highly mathematical scriblings on her paper with unhidden distaste. "You nearly done with that..thing?"
Smiling to herself, Serena noticed his reaction to her work. "Nope, but at least I have the sunset as my cleansing balm from all this work."
Hendrick smiled down at her, "Mine too! Especially considering I get off work a little after sunset" he confided. "All right, I'll leave you to your greek algebra there," he bade just as she resumed working. She didn't even try to correct him that it was econometrics. There are some things that people just don't want to know.
As the sky turned purplish orange, Serena laid her pen down and took a calming breath. Her table was near the railing which ensured that she had an unhindered view of the spectacle before her. Looking around, it was easy to observe that most of the people at Le Cafe were couples, probably going to or coming from the cultural center.
She turned back to the coast staring into the setting sun with a light heart and bright soul. The sun was already swallowed midway by the sea, its rays holding the world hostage, clinging tightly to the earth as it dropped inchingly into oblivion. It took only a couple more minutes before it fully disappeared into the horizon, taking her breath as it went.
"Some things never cease to amaze," she whispered to herself.
-----
Darien was thinking exactly the same thing as he stared at Serena's golden outline set against the setting sun. She looked like a magical being, seated there, entraced and unmindful of everything else. Warily, he wondered if she had already spoken with Raye.
"Dare," the blonde beside him called out, "I'm just gonna go to the washroom. Tell Jane and Albert I'll be with you guys in a while" she intimated, laying her hand on his jaw and rubbing affectionately.
He smiled at her, watching as she walked away. Cristina was beautiful, intelligent, sweet and was built with an exceptional body. She fit perfectly into Darien's mold of an attractive woman. She also fit his mold for an ideal bed partner, with contours that melted into his and an appetite that matched his own. But then, so do the rest of the female population he has dated so far. Knowing Tina for a number of years now, he had fallen into a pleasant arrangement with her. One that didn't require commitment, but allowed for many illicit liberties. They were dating and sleeping with each other for mutual comfort, and nothing more.
Walking towards their friends, Darien sat himself beside Jane as he shook Albert's hand. Uncontrollably, his eyes drifted towards the solitary figure by the railing, shrouded by the falling light.
"Tina?" Jane, a brown-haired hazel-eyed beauty by her own right, immediately inquired. She was Christina's bestfriend.
"Wash room." Darien responded automatically, smiling wryly. Tina was usually disappearing into the wash room. It must be some sort of an affliction for her.
"She told us that you weren't watching Guru with us. It's really hilarious, man. You should see it." Albert invited. He was a dark-skinned man who could give Tyson Beckford a run for his money. Albert was also Jane's long-term boyfriend.
Checking the time, Darien smiled apologetically at them. "Promised myself to a friend by 7:30 pm. I'll probably watch it another time."
Darien sensed Tina before he felt her arms go around him from behind, her hands settling comfortably on his chest. "He just doesn't want to watch it with me," she teased. "He's never seen a romance film while I'm with him. Must be an unwritten rule..."
He turned to look at her, standing beside him with her delicate looking bag slung over her right shoulder. Jane and Albert stood as well, leaving for the film that was about to start in twenty minutes. Standing to bid them goodbye, he placed his hand on Tina's waist, giving her a more-than-friendly kiss on the cheek. "You have fun, alright?"
"I will," she responded almost shyly, before placing her hand on his nape to pull him in for a deep kiss. Seemingly unsurprised, Darien didn't even think twice to respond, turning the kiss from casual to passionate.
He was licking her raspberry flavored lipstick off his own lips when they parted for air.
"Alright. Bye." She waved after they disengaged from their kiss, walking out of the cafe with her two other friends.
It took a while for him to break away from his stupor, carefully veiling the realization that Tina might be expecting more from him, as indicated by her more frequent public gestures of possession. Not that he didn't appreciate all the saliva-swapping, but there were just too many unwritten rules. He honestly didn't want to hurt her.
His primary concern though as his mind cleared was not Tina, rather, it was...Serena. Turning towards the coast again, he saw her rearranging her papers, preparing to leave. It took him no time to decide to approach her.
He stood right behind her, admiring her soft profile. Thoughtfully oblivious, she didn't notice him until she fully turned towards the door.
"Boo." he spoke monotonously, his eyes sparkling with humor.
She smiled despite her resolve to snub him. Hiding her blush, she ignored the scene that she just witnessed between Darien and a certain gorgeous blonde a few seconds earlier.
"Boo yourself." She walked past him. Raye wanted to meet her in Andrew's bistro by 8 pm. She thanked the gods that she had a valid excuse to leave him behind without preamble. Just run.
Unfazed, Darien followed her, resolved to have a conversation. "Where ya off to?" he inquired as he grabbed some of her heavier looking books, and carried them easily.
Somewhat amusedly annoyed, Serena stopped as they stepped out of the cafe, and looked at Darien squarely in the eye.
"What do you want?" she asked skeptically, not used to this almost gentlemanly behavior from him. She expected a truce from last night, but she didn't expect him to be overly friendly.
"I want to talk." He sounded sincere. He even looked it. Which made Serena warier. Darien wasn't nice or civil. He was Darien, insulting and behaving like a big bully in every turn. He hasn't even used his nickname for her yet.
Sighing impatiently, Serena conceded. "Alright. I'll give you 30 seconds to talk. That's more than what I give any regular Tom, Dick and Harry."
He grinned impishly at her. "Gee thanks, meatball head."
"Now I'm relieved," she confided after his response. "For a lost moment there, I thought you were a CJ clone gone awry." Her smile was blinding to him.
It was also addictive. So was her wit.
"So I'm back to being conceited jerk, huh?"
"Of course, CJ. That's the only aspect of you I'm familiar with," she sharply retorted, jokingly.
Darien looked into some titles he was holding. "Basic Econometrics? For your thesis?"
She was impressed that he knew what it was for. "Yeap."
"Nearly done?"
"Midway." she replied dismissively. "Now, if you'll excuse me, your 30 seconds are over, and I need my books back." With a strength he didn't expect, she was able to steal her books back. She was also one fast walker.
"Wait up, Meatballs!" he called out as he sprinted after her. "You need a ride to the bistro?"
Serena debated with herself in multiple levels. One: Do I stop or do I just walk on? Two: Do I ride with him or endure the long walk for the sake of dignity? In the end, the debate leaned towards Darien's favor.
Standing still, she turned to see Darien grinning at her stopping at midstride. He had been extremely nice and she couldn't see any justification for her cold behavior aside from her discomfort with seeing him kiss a woman a while back. But even that wasn't sufficient to justify her bitchiness.
Selfishly, she also decided there was no dignity walking around and traipsing into bistros with a bunch of econometric books. At least, she could leave some of her books in Darien's car if he dropped her off. So see, it wasn't because she wanted to. It was because she HAD to. *Right!*
"Actually, I do need a ride." she admitted, giving him an apologetic smile.
"Great. I'm going to the same place." he offered, taking her books and leading her towards where he had parked his car.
-----
"Snazzy place, 'Drew," Chad commented as he entered Andrew's family-owned bistro, his arm slung over his girlfriend's shoulder.
"Thanks dude!" Andrew replied as he ushered Ken, Gabby and Greg in. He had designed the floor plan and he was quite proud of how it had turned out. The man by the bar gestured his helplessness. "I'll just leave you guys for a while. I think they need me by the bar."
The bistro was cozy, with plush extended common couches running around the place. A knee-high stage was propped up in the center, Lenny Kravitz 'Fly Away' MTv style, with a musical genre moving between classics to alternative. As they went in, the dj was playing a tune by Dave Matthews called 'Crush.'
"You got the word right, honey. Snazzzey!" Raye raved as she tested the cushions of the lounge couches. Seating himself beside her, Chad held his girlfriend tightly, stilling her from all her bouncing. He had noticed that she wasn't wearing a bra tonight, and having her move around a lot didn't really contribute to his peace of mind. In fact, it bothered him.
Eyeing Chad suggestively, Raye leaned into his ears, intentionally rubbing soft sensitive flesh against his side. "Wanna relax, lover?" she purred, nibbling on his ear. "You've been tense all day."
Eyes darkening, he positioned his hands by her ribcage, below her breasts. Nearly there, but not yet. The grip was very possessive. "Anyone who has you as his woman will always be tense, darling." He whispered, his breath unstable. "Extremely tense."
Raye straightened perceptibly, guilt striking her through Chad's well-meaning words. True, Chad hadn't meant 'tense' in the sense that she construed it, but she knew in all honesty that he did have the right to be tense about her undecided sexual orientation. He still didn't know about he experimental nature though, so he didn't have any idea of what he really should have been tense about.
She genuinely liked him; She was just very uncertain. She knew it was unfair of her to hold Chad's string like a puppeteer while she traipsed around with people of various sexes. It was just simply unfair. He deserved better. "I'm sorry."
He was obviously confused by her change in demeanor. The rest of the guys were offering them some beer from the other end of the wall couch. Showing signs of impatience, he told for them to wait with a single gesture.
"What's wrong baby?" It was a concerned plea.
"Nah. It's nothing." She burrowed her head into his neck, positioning them into a hug.
This worried Chad even more. He was astounded how women can just turn hot then cold. It was really the oddest, most frustrating thing.
"Of course you know I used 'tense' in a good sense, right?" he pushed further.
Raye sighed. "I know, baby. I know."
They were getting nowhere. "So, what's wrong? Why'd you suddenly turn cold?"
Raye was oddly quiet for a while, until she finally spoke again. "You love me, right?" she inquired, uncertainly.
Chad looked at her like she was becoming unstable. But his whispered response was as genuine and intense as the heart beating inside his chest. "Of course I do, Raye. I love you."
She smiled confidently at him this time, having regained her composure. Maybe, if she told him, he could wait for her. That's what the holy books and church sermons said, if she wasn't mistaken. It's not like she was frequently in church, but love is patient, love is kind...as the saying went, right? She was going around in circles. No wonder Darien could easily balckmail her. She had so many unresolved issues.
Leaning into his chest, she sighed her response. "Thanks, baby."
Chad was deeply hurt that she hadn't returned the expression of love, but he kept it to himself; willing to wait for teh words to come out and soothe his tattered ego voluntarily. Even frustrated, he was eternally grateful that she had chosen to be with him. He had been hoping that she'll eventually say the words...in due time.
-----
"I tell you, 'Drew, if you really wanna protect her, you gotta stop the rumors that are spreading around," Greg intoned, his demeanor grave.
"Who is she? and what rumors?" Gabby asked, eternally out of the loop.
"Serena, you idiot!" Ken helpfully informed, swatting Gabby in the head.
Greg had been informing them of a widely circulating gossip among the male population in their university that Serena Revaux IS a lesbian. And evidently the root of the rumor was during Andrew's party last night.
Andrew's eyebrows were squinched in deep thought. "Why would they want to corrupt Serena? She's too young for all of this."
Ken was tempted to swat Andrew's head too. "Excuse me, 'Drew, but your sweet sisterly Serena isn't exactly the sister material to the rest of us."
"You mean Serena, the one with endlessly long legs and killer lips?" Gabby added, finally pinpointing the girl they were talking about. How could anyone blame him for the lag; there were too many girls they came in contact with after all. Especially with Darien and Andrew in the group.
"That's all you notice?" Ken burst increduously at Gabby. "Have you seen the way she walks?! Man, she's built like a goddamn supermodel, all firm and contoured like so..." he was moving his hands in the air like he was trying to sculp something. "And those long-sleeved tops she always wears...Damn, they just kill me man. That's a girl who can turn conservative into sexy. Makes me wanna find out what's under..."
"You can stop disparaging my sister now," Andrew burst before Ken's imagination get the better of everbody. He had been attracted himself before to Serena, but she was just too young, too familiar, too sweet and dear to be considered as a bed partner. She's too sensitive and beloved for one-night-stands.
"She ain't your sister, pal," Gabby helpfully informed. Ken and Greg grinned at that.
"I know, I know...But it definitely feels like it." Andrew confessed.
"Uh-oh." Greg warned as he saw a couple walk into the bistro. He looked at Andrew sternly, his meaning vague.
"What?"
"I think that if you really wanna protect Serena, you gotta rope our dear friend Darien...real tight." Greg revised.
While the rest of the group started staring at the floor, scratching their heads, looking questionnably innocent and unaware, Andrew turned to observe the couple approaching with something akin to fascination and dread.
-----
"You sure you don't mind?" Serena asked for the third time as she left her books in the backseat of Darien's car. He had promised to bring her home afterwards.
"It would be my honor to bring you home," he reassured just as he pressed a button on the car remote to lock the doors.
She looked at him derisively for his choice of words, laughing despite herself. "Stop with the bullshit, CJ. No one's buying it."
Smiling at her with disbelief, he evaluated Serena's behavior further. She seemed to be just naturally resistant to his charms. What was frustrating about it is that he had been perfectly sincere--and she still didn't believe him. "Is this the way you treat guys who offer to bring you home?"
"Of course not! This treatment is offensive!" she responded, acting aghast. "I reserve this only for you, CJ." she added sweetly, making her title for him almost sound like an endearment. Almost.
They walked comfortably towards the pub, Serena never taking Darien's words at face value. She did wonder though, how long he could keep up the act.
"So, that's how it's going to be, huh?" Darien asked, somewhat seriously.
Serena paused midstep as they entered through the doorway. "That's how what's gonna be?" Completely at loss.
Positioning himself to stand closely beside her, Darien ignored the speculative looks that his friends threw their way. He noticed Serena's unease whenever he touched her, or even so much as breathed within her private space. He had to break the tension somehow.
"Are you in love with me?" The question was confident, if not highly inaccurate.
Bursting into laughter, Serena clutched her stomach in hilarity. Just as she was about to lose her balance, she sought leverage in Darien's awaiting arms, still laughing like a madwoman. Darien didn't know whether he should kill her for her insult or hug her for the opportunity.
Holding her carefully, he grinned at her. "I understand, honey. All those turbulent lovey-dovey emotions you can't control." he cooed. "Just let it out, darling."
"You are the most presumptuous, most conceited, most misguided person I know by far." Serena smiled at him brightly, sobering up from her uncontrolled laughter, biting her lip helplessly.
He was such an adorable ass.
"At least I'm memorable," the reply was smooth. As suave as the speaker himself.
He HAD such an adorable ass.
*Argh! Evil thoughts, Serena* she reminded herself as she stood away from him. She had just realized that they were in plain view of everyone, and their stance was very compromising.
He noted the speed with which she recoiled from his light embrace. She had the uncanny knack of making him uncomfortable with himself. Why was she so uncomfortable with him, anyway? And why does she effortless and unconsciously bewitch him with every move.
Raye called out to them, gaining Serena's undivided attention. Darien felt like grumbling in annoyance as his cousin succesfully pulled Serena away from him. Observing them for a while, he scowled at his friends who were expertly flirting with Serena. Likewise, he noted the telltale blush that tainted Serena's cheeks when she waved her hello to Andrew. He couldn't help the surge of jealousy that overcame him.
"What's up, Dare?" Ken asked just as Darien found a seat beside Andrew. The rest of the guys gave him a heads up. He was somewhat surprised that Gabby made it. He was supposed to be attending dinner with their relatives tonight. Gabriel, like Raye, was one of his first cousins.
Serena and Raye were walking towards another end of the room, with Raye giving him a sly grin.
"How's Tina?" Andrew inquired, his tone curt.
The rest of the guys fell into a hushed and tense silence at the meaningful question.
"Fine. How's Rachel?" Darien returned, uncaring.
"Fine." was the immediate response.
"Good."
Silence.
"So, you shagging Serena too?" The question was like a landmine. Only Gabby would have the guts (or the stupidity) to ask such a question.
"Yeah, Dare," Andrew pursued. "Tell us, what's up with you and Serena?"
Darien smiled menacingly at Andrew, noticing his overpretective demeanor. What was going on between Andrew and Serena anyway, he asked himself as a slow but heavy flow of jealously polluted his bloodstream. "What's it to you, 'Drew? You courting her?
Coughing on his beer, Andrew laughed carelessly at the inquiry. The rest of the guys including the previously-occupied Chad laughed as well.
"Are you kiddin', Dare?!" Ken voiced out increduously. "Andrew has assigned himself to the noble full-time commitment of being Serena's chastity belt, all fatherly and shit."
Gabby nudged Ken with his elbow, grinning stupidly at Ken's descriptive explanation.
There was a noticeable flash of relief in Darien's eyes, which Andrew picked up on.
"Wait," Chad intoned inquiringly, looking at the group with helpless morth. "You mean Serena--the Serena talking with Raye right now?"
"Do we know any other Serena?" Greg rationally pointed out.
"You courting her?" The question was like a snap of the whip, silencing everybody in their group. It came from Andrew.
"Not yet." Darien sighed in annoyance as the rest of the gang, excluding andrew, hooted their encouragement. He noticed Serena looking at their group with a stricken expression--Raye probably told her already since his raven-haired cousin looked like she was desperately explaining something. He desperately hoped that Serena would fall neatly into his plans. The woman he wanted to pursue looked like she was more ready to upbraid him than be friends with him.
"He's staring at her again." Gabby laughingly announced. Darien was somewhat annoyed at being the group's sole source of amusement.
"You look like a starved wolf when you look at her." Chad noted, earning Andrew's grunt of approval.
"Kinda like how you look at Raye, right?" Darien teased back, wanting to turn the tables on anyone. He didn't wanna be put under the microscope for something that he was still uncertain of.
"That, I'll never deny, my friend." Chad responded confidently, earning disbelieving comments about how badly he was whipped and collared.
Ken elbowed Andrew teasingly, testing his fatherly instincts. "Man, I'd be starved for that kind of fresh meat too, if I had the chance. All firmness and smooth skin, probably juicy too!"
The comment elicited deep chuckles from most of them. Trying to hide his scowl, Darien was bothered that his friends were evaluating Serena as market meat. He wanted to growl at Ken for even daring to imagine her in the sexual light. That was his right, dammit! But he also knew his friends did it to grate on sensitive nerves. Theire crude language and teasing never bothered him so much before.
Instead of addressing Ken, he turned towards Andrew instead. "Who made you the fearless guardian, 'Drew? Some deeper hidden motive?"
"Just a concerend friend, is all." The blonde-haired bar owner replied quietly. Deep in his thoughts, Andrew was concerned about Serena, especially if Darien viewed her as his next pursuit. His friends might find it hypocritical, but he didn't want Serena to be pursued by anyone in his group, including himself. Especially not Darien.
Anyone but Darien.
He had to talk to Serena.
-----
It took a while for Serena to calm down, considering she went from hysterical to unbelieving to shock to laughter. Her psychology had jumped leaps and bounds today.
Raye, on her part, was astoundingly relieved when Serena finally saw things her way. She understood Serena's previous experience with men, and knew that this would benefit her friend as well. Darien was going to learn a lesson or two from messing with two equally wily women.
"How much is the pay-off?" Serena asked, her tone taking on a reasonable tone. Raye had already received Serena's promise to go through with the plan and the trip to Virginia. Her cousin was definitely in for a surprise.
"Split a thousand."
Serena whistled in appreciation. "He's got deep pockets if he can burn money like that."
Raye grinned maliciously. "Deep pockets he has, my dear."
Serena had to reluctantly smile herself.
This could get interesting.
-----
Sorry for the extremely delayed updates. I appreciate all the emails, and apologize to those who I didn't manage to respond to. Please keep on reviewing, and indicate any recommendations or proposals you guys have on the story. =) Any input given is highly valued. Hopefully, I can upload the next chapter with much shorter lags.
Again, thanks!
Gorecki
by Gorecki
uploaded: 03.18.2003
Rated R
chawklit@hotmail.com
-----
It was a usual lazy Saturday; and as usual, she sat comfortably at Le Cafe doing some paperwork for school. The cafe was ideal for Serena, located across the theater and near the coast. It was her favorite place to work in, more so than that overly popular Starbucks cafe.
Working at a relaxed pace for a couple of hours now, she paused in her writing to wave another order of poppy seed loaf and water to Hendrick. The attentive and amiable waiter was almost like an elder brother to her. Of course it helped that she had been going to this same spot for almost a year now.
Checking her watch, she noted that sunset was nearing. That was one of the things she looked forward to every saturdays -- The sight of the breathtaking sun falling into the coast as the moon rose to replace it. It was the best consolation she could ever get for three hours of tirelessly reading econometric methodologies. She didn't particularly care about multivariate statistics, quintile regressions and decompositions. Sometimes, Serena wondered why she was even taking up economics. Thesis was excruciating, but she had never backed away from a challenge. And economics was just that; a tough, complex, and grueling challenge.
Just in time, Hendrick approached carrying her food. "Here ya go, Sere."
"Much thanks, rick!" she responded kindly as she took a long swallow from her water bottle.
"It's almost sunset" he cheerily informed her, looking at the highly mathematical scriblings on her paper with unhidden distaste. "You nearly done with that..thing?"
Smiling to herself, Serena noticed his reaction to her work. "Nope, but at least I have the sunset as my cleansing balm from all this work."
Hendrick smiled down at her, "Mine too! Especially considering I get off work a little after sunset" he confided. "All right, I'll leave you to your greek algebra there," he bade just as she resumed working. She didn't even try to correct him that it was econometrics. There are some things that people just don't want to know.
As the sky turned purplish orange, Serena laid her pen down and took a calming breath. Her table was near the railing which ensured that she had an unhindered view of the spectacle before her. Looking around, it was easy to observe that most of the people at Le Cafe were couples, probably going to or coming from the cultural center.
She turned back to the coast staring into the setting sun with a light heart and bright soul. The sun was already swallowed midway by the sea, its rays holding the world hostage, clinging tightly to the earth as it dropped inchingly into oblivion. It took only a couple more minutes before it fully disappeared into the horizon, taking her breath as it went.
"Some things never cease to amaze," she whispered to herself.
-----
Darien was thinking exactly the same thing as he stared at Serena's golden outline set against the setting sun. She looked like a magical being, seated there, entraced and unmindful of everything else. Warily, he wondered if she had already spoken with Raye.
"Dare," the blonde beside him called out, "I'm just gonna go to the washroom. Tell Jane and Albert I'll be with you guys in a while" she intimated, laying her hand on his jaw and rubbing affectionately.
He smiled at her, watching as she walked away. Cristina was beautiful, intelligent, sweet and was built with an exceptional body. She fit perfectly into Darien's mold of an attractive woman. She also fit his mold for an ideal bed partner, with contours that melted into his and an appetite that matched his own. But then, so do the rest of the female population he has dated so far. Knowing Tina for a number of years now, he had fallen into a pleasant arrangement with her. One that didn't require commitment, but allowed for many illicit liberties. They were dating and sleeping with each other for mutual comfort, and nothing more.
Walking towards their friends, Darien sat himself beside Jane as he shook Albert's hand. Uncontrollably, his eyes drifted towards the solitary figure by the railing, shrouded by the falling light.
"Tina?" Jane, a brown-haired hazel-eyed beauty by her own right, immediately inquired. She was Christina's bestfriend.
"Wash room." Darien responded automatically, smiling wryly. Tina was usually disappearing into the wash room. It must be some sort of an affliction for her.
"She told us that you weren't watching Guru with us. It's really hilarious, man. You should see it." Albert invited. He was a dark-skinned man who could give Tyson Beckford a run for his money. Albert was also Jane's long-term boyfriend.
Checking the time, Darien smiled apologetically at them. "Promised myself to a friend by 7:30 pm. I'll probably watch it another time."
Darien sensed Tina before he felt her arms go around him from behind, her hands settling comfortably on his chest. "He just doesn't want to watch it with me," she teased. "He's never seen a romance film while I'm with him. Must be an unwritten rule..."
He turned to look at her, standing beside him with her delicate looking bag slung over her right shoulder. Jane and Albert stood as well, leaving for the film that was about to start in twenty minutes. Standing to bid them goodbye, he placed his hand on Tina's waist, giving her a more-than-friendly kiss on the cheek. "You have fun, alright?"
"I will," she responded almost shyly, before placing her hand on his nape to pull him in for a deep kiss. Seemingly unsurprised, Darien didn't even think twice to respond, turning the kiss from casual to passionate.
He was licking her raspberry flavored lipstick off his own lips when they parted for air.
"Alright. Bye." She waved after they disengaged from their kiss, walking out of the cafe with her two other friends.
It took a while for him to break away from his stupor, carefully veiling the realization that Tina might be expecting more from him, as indicated by her more frequent public gestures of possession. Not that he didn't appreciate all the saliva-swapping, but there were just too many unwritten rules. He honestly didn't want to hurt her.
His primary concern though as his mind cleared was not Tina, rather, it was...Serena. Turning towards the coast again, he saw her rearranging her papers, preparing to leave. It took him no time to decide to approach her.
He stood right behind her, admiring her soft profile. Thoughtfully oblivious, she didn't notice him until she fully turned towards the door.
"Boo." he spoke monotonously, his eyes sparkling with humor.
She smiled despite her resolve to snub him. Hiding her blush, she ignored the scene that she just witnessed between Darien and a certain gorgeous blonde a few seconds earlier.
"Boo yourself." She walked past him. Raye wanted to meet her in Andrew's bistro by 8 pm. She thanked the gods that she had a valid excuse to leave him behind without preamble. Just run.
Unfazed, Darien followed her, resolved to have a conversation. "Where ya off to?" he inquired as he grabbed some of her heavier looking books, and carried them easily.
Somewhat amusedly annoyed, Serena stopped as they stepped out of the cafe, and looked at Darien squarely in the eye.
"What do you want?" she asked skeptically, not used to this almost gentlemanly behavior from him. She expected a truce from last night, but she didn't expect him to be overly friendly.
"I want to talk." He sounded sincere. He even looked it. Which made Serena warier. Darien wasn't nice or civil. He was Darien, insulting and behaving like a big bully in every turn. He hasn't even used his nickname for her yet.
Sighing impatiently, Serena conceded. "Alright. I'll give you 30 seconds to talk. That's more than what I give any regular Tom, Dick and Harry."
He grinned impishly at her. "Gee thanks, meatball head."
"Now I'm relieved," she confided after his response. "For a lost moment there, I thought you were a CJ clone gone awry." Her smile was blinding to him.
It was also addictive. So was her wit.
"So I'm back to being conceited jerk, huh?"
"Of course, CJ. That's the only aspect of you I'm familiar with," she sharply retorted, jokingly.
Darien looked into some titles he was holding. "Basic Econometrics? For your thesis?"
She was impressed that he knew what it was for. "Yeap."
"Nearly done?"
"Midway." she replied dismissively. "Now, if you'll excuse me, your 30 seconds are over, and I need my books back." With a strength he didn't expect, she was able to steal her books back. She was also one fast walker.
"Wait up, Meatballs!" he called out as he sprinted after her. "You need a ride to the bistro?"
Serena debated with herself in multiple levels. One: Do I stop or do I just walk on? Two: Do I ride with him or endure the long walk for the sake of dignity? In the end, the debate leaned towards Darien's favor.
Standing still, she turned to see Darien grinning at her stopping at midstride. He had been extremely nice and she couldn't see any justification for her cold behavior aside from her discomfort with seeing him kiss a woman a while back. But even that wasn't sufficient to justify her bitchiness.
Selfishly, she also decided there was no dignity walking around and traipsing into bistros with a bunch of econometric books. At least, she could leave some of her books in Darien's car if he dropped her off. So see, it wasn't because she wanted to. It was because she HAD to. *Right!*
"Actually, I do need a ride." she admitted, giving him an apologetic smile.
"Great. I'm going to the same place." he offered, taking her books and leading her towards where he had parked his car.
-----
"Snazzy place, 'Drew," Chad commented as he entered Andrew's family-owned bistro, his arm slung over his girlfriend's shoulder.
"Thanks dude!" Andrew replied as he ushered Ken, Gabby and Greg in. He had designed the floor plan and he was quite proud of how it had turned out. The man by the bar gestured his helplessness. "I'll just leave you guys for a while. I think they need me by the bar."
The bistro was cozy, with plush extended common couches running around the place. A knee-high stage was propped up in the center, Lenny Kravitz 'Fly Away' MTv style, with a musical genre moving between classics to alternative. As they went in, the dj was playing a tune by Dave Matthews called 'Crush.'
"You got the word right, honey. Snazzzey!" Raye raved as she tested the cushions of the lounge couches. Seating himself beside her, Chad held his girlfriend tightly, stilling her from all her bouncing. He had noticed that she wasn't wearing a bra tonight, and having her move around a lot didn't really contribute to his peace of mind. In fact, it bothered him.
Eyeing Chad suggestively, Raye leaned into his ears, intentionally rubbing soft sensitive flesh against his side. "Wanna relax, lover?" she purred, nibbling on his ear. "You've been tense all day."
Eyes darkening, he positioned his hands by her ribcage, below her breasts. Nearly there, but not yet. The grip was very possessive. "Anyone who has you as his woman will always be tense, darling." He whispered, his breath unstable. "Extremely tense."
Raye straightened perceptibly, guilt striking her through Chad's well-meaning words. True, Chad hadn't meant 'tense' in the sense that she construed it, but she knew in all honesty that he did have the right to be tense about her undecided sexual orientation. He still didn't know about he experimental nature though, so he didn't have any idea of what he really should have been tense about.
She genuinely liked him; She was just very uncertain. She knew it was unfair of her to hold Chad's string like a puppeteer while she traipsed around with people of various sexes. It was just simply unfair. He deserved better. "I'm sorry."
He was obviously confused by her change in demeanor. The rest of the guys were offering them some beer from the other end of the wall couch. Showing signs of impatience, he told for them to wait with a single gesture.
"What's wrong baby?" It was a concerned plea.
"Nah. It's nothing." She burrowed her head into his neck, positioning them into a hug.
This worried Chad even more. He was astounded how women can just turn hot then cold. It was really the oddest, most frustrating thing.
"Of course you know I used 'tense' in a good sense, right?" he pushed further.
Raye sighed. "I know, baby. I know."
They were getting nowhere. "So, what's wrong? Why'd you suddenly turn cold?"
Raye was oddly quiet for a while, until she finally spoke again. "You love me, right?" she inquired, uncertainly.
Chad looked at her like she was becoming unstable. But his whispered response was as genuine and intense as the heart beating inside his chest. "Of course I do, Raye. I love you."
She smiled confidently at him this time, having regained her composure. Maybe, if she told him, he could wait for her. That's what the holy books and church sermons said, if she wasn't mistaken. It's not like she was frequently in church, but love is patient, love is kind...as the saying went, right? She was going around in circles. No wonder Darien could easily balckmail her. She had so many unresolved issues.
Leaning into his chest, she sighed her response. "Thanks, baby."
Chad was deeply hurt that she hadn't returned the expression of love, but he kept it to himself; willing to wait for teh words to come out and soothe his tattered ego voluntarily. Even frustrated, he was eternally grateful that she had chosen to be with him. He had been hoping that she'll eventually say the words...in due time.
-----
"I tell you, 'Drew, if you really wanna protect her, you gotta stop the rumors that are spreading around," Greg intoned, his demeanor grave.
"Who is she? and what rumors?" Gabby asked, eternally out of the loop.
"Serena, you idiot!" Ken helpfully informed, swatting Gabby in the head.
Greg had been informing them of a widely circulating gossip among the male population in their university that Serena Revaux IS a lesbian. And evidently the root of the rumor was during Andrew's party last night.
Andrew's eyebrows were squinched in deep thought. "Why would they want to corrupt Serena? She's too young for all of this."
Ken was tempted to swat Andrew's head too. "Excuse me, 'Drew, but your sweet sisterly Serena isn't exactly the sister material to the rest of us."
"You mean Serena, the one with endlessly long legs and killer lips?" Gabby added, finally pinpointing the girl they were talking about. How could anyone blame him for the lag; there were too many girls they came in contact with after all. Especially with Darien and Andrew in the group.
"That's all you notice?" Ken burst increduously at Gabby. "Have you seen the way she walks?! Man, she's built like a goddamn supermodel, all firm and contoured like so..." he was moving his hands in the air like he was trying to sculp something. "And those long-sleeved tops she always wears...Damn, they just kill me man. That's a girl who can turn conservative into sexy. Makes me wanna find out what's under..."
"You can stop disparaging my sister now," Andrew burst before Ken's imagination get the better of everbody. He had been attracted himself before to Serena, but she was just too young, too familiar, too sweet and dear to be considered as a bed partner. She's too sensitive and beloved for one-night-stands.
"She ain't your sister, pal," Gabby helpfully informed. Ken and Greg grinned at that.
"I know, I know...But it definitely feels like it." Andrew confessed.
"Uh-oh." Greg warned as he saw a couple walk into the bistro. He looked at Andrew sternly, his meaning vague.
"What?"
"I think that if you really wanna protect Serena, you gotta rope our dear friend Darien...real tight." Greg revised.
While the rest of the group started staring at the floor, scratching their heads, looking questionnably innocent and unaware, Andrew turned to observe the couple approaching with something akin to fascination and dread.
-----
"You sure you don't mind?" Serena asked for the third time as she left her books in the backseat of Darien's car. He had promised to bring her home afterwards.
"It would be my honor to bring you home," he reassured just as he pressed a button on the car remote to lock the doors.
She looked at him derisively for his choice of words, laughing despite herself. "Stop with the bullshit, CJ. No one's buying it."
Smiling at her with disbelief, he evaluated Serena's behavior further. She seemed to be just naturally resistant to his charms. What was frustrating about it is that he had been perfectly sincere--and she still didn't believe him. "Is this the way you treat guys who offer to bring you home?"
"Of course not! This treatment is offensive!" she responded, acting aghast. "I reserve this only for you, CJ." she added sweetly, making her title for him almost sound like an endearment. Almost.
They walked comfortably towards the pub, Serena never taking Darien's words at face value. She did wonder though, how long he could keep up the act.
"So, that's how it's going to be, huh?" Darien asked, somewhat seriously.
Serena paused midstep as they entered through the doorway. "That's how what's gonna be?" Completely at loss.
Positioning himself to stand closely beside her, Darien ignored the speculative looks that his friends threw their way. He noticed Serena's unease whenever he touched her, or even so much as breathed within her private space. He had to break the tension somehow.
"Are you in love with me?" The question was confident, if not highly inaccurate.
Bursting into laughter, Serena clutched her stomach in hilarity. Just as she was about to lose her balance, she sought leverage in Darien's awaiting arms, still laughing like a madwoman. Darien didn't know whether he should kill her for her insult or hug her for the opportunity.
Holding her carefully, he grinned at her. "I understand, honey. All those turbulent lovey-dovey emotions you can't control." he cooed. "Just let it out, darling."
"You are the most presumptuous, most conceited, most misguided person I know by far." Serena smiled at him brightly, sobering up from her uncontrolled laughter, biting her lip helplessly.
He was such an adorable ass.
"At least I'm memorable," the reply was smooth. As suave as the speaker himself.
He HAD such an adorable ass.
*Argh! Evil thoughts, Serena* she reminded herself as she stood away from him. She had just realized that they were in plain view of everyone, and their stance was very compromising.
He noted the speed with which she recoiled from his light embrace. She had the uncanny knack of making him uncomfortable with himself. Why was she so uncomfortable with him, anyway? And why does she effortless and unconsciously bewitch him with every move.
Raye called out to them, gaining Serena's undivided attention. Darien felt like grumbling in annoyance as his cousin succesfully pulled Serena away from him. Observing them for a while, he scowled at his friends who were expertly flirting with Serena. Likewise, he noted the telltale blush that tainted Serena's cheeks when she waved her hello to Andrew. He couldn't help the surge of jealousy that overcame him.
"What's up, Dare?" Ken asked just as Darien found a seat beside Andrew. The rest of the guys gave him a heads up. He was somewhat surprised that Gabby made it. He was supposed to be attending dinner with their relatives tonight. Gabriel, like Raye, was one of his first cousins.
Serena and Raye were walking towards another end of the room, with Raye giving him a sly grin.
"How's Tina?" Andrew inquired, his tone curt.
The rest of the guys fell into a hushed and tense silence at the meaningful question.
"Fine. How's Rachel?" Darien returned, uncaring.
"Fine." was the immediate response.
"Good."
Silence.
"So, you shagging Serena too?" The question was like a landmine. Only Gabby would have the guts (or the stupidity) to ask such a question.
"Yeah, Dare," Andrew pursued. "Tell us, what's up with you and Serena?"
Darien smiled menacingly at Andrew, noticing his overpretective demeanor. What was going on between Andrew and Serena anyway, he asked himself as a slow but heavy flow of jealously polluted his bloodstream. "What's it to you, 'Drew? You courting her?
Coughing on his beer, Andrew laughed carelessly at the inquiry. The rest of the guys including the previously-occupied Chad laughed as well.
"Are you kiddin', Dare?!" Ken voiced out increduously. "Andrew has assigned himself to the noble full-time commitment of being Serena's chastity belt, all fatherly and shit."
Gabby nudged Ken with his elbow, grinning stupidly at Ken's descriptive explanation.
There was a noticeable flash of relief in Darien's eyes, which Andrew picked up on.
"Wait," Chad intoned inquiringly, looking at the group with helpless morth. "You mean Serena--the Serena talking with Raye right now?"
"Do we know any other Serena?" Greg rationally pointed out.
"You courting her?" The question was like a snap of the whip, silencing everybody in their group. It came from Andrew.
"Not yet." Darien sighed in annoyance as the rest of the gang, excluding andrew, hooted their encouragement. He noticed Serena looking at their group with a stricken expression--Raye probably told her already since his raven-haired cousin looked like she was desperately explaining something. He desperately hoped that Serena would fall neatly into his plans. The woman he wanted to pursue looked like she was more ready to upbraid him than be friends with him.
"He's staring at her again." Gabby laughingly announced. Darien was somewhat annoyed at being the group's sole source of amusement.
"You look like a starved wolf when you look at her." Chad noted, earning Andrew's grunt of approval.
"Kinda like how you look at Raye, right?" Darien teased back, wanting to turn the tables on anyone. He didn't wanna be put under the microscope for something that he was still uncertain of.
"That, I'll never deny, my friend." Chad responded confidently, earning disbelieving comments about how badly he was whipped and collared.
Ken elbowed Andrew teasingly, testing his fatherly instincts. "Man, I'd be starved for that kind of fresh meat too, if I had the chance. All firmness and smooth skin, probably juicy too!"
The comment elicited deep chuckles from most of them. Trying to hide his scowl, Darien was bothered that his friends were evaluating Serena as market meat. He wanted to growl at Ken for even daring to imagine her in the sexual light. That was his right, dammit! But he also knew his friends did it to grate on sensitive nerves. Theire crude language and teasing never bothered him so much before.
Instead of addressing Ken, he turned towards Andrew instead. "Who made you the fearless guardian, 'Drew? Some deeper hidden motive?"
"Just a concerend friend, is all." The blonde-haired bar owner replied quietly. Deep in his thoughts, Andrew was concerned about Serena, especially if Darien viewed her as his next pursuit. His friends might find it hypocritical, but he didn't want Serena to be pursued by anyone in his group, including himself. Especially not Darien.
Anyone but Darien.
He had to talk to Serena.
-----
It took a while for Serena to calm down, considering she went from hysterical to unbelieving to shock to laughter. Her psychology had jumped leaps and bounds today.
Raye, on her part, was astoundingly relieved when Serena finally saw things her way. She understood Serena's previous experience with men, and knew that this would benefit her friend as well. Darien was going to learn a lesson or two from messing with two equally wily women.
"How much is the pay-off?" Serena asked, her tone taking on a reasonable tone. Raye had already received Serena's promise to go through with the plan and the trip to Virginia. Her cousin was definitely in for a surprise.
"Split a thousand."
Serena whistled in appreciation. "He's got deep pockets if he can burn money like that."
Raye grinned maliciously. "Deep pockets he has, my dear."
Serena had to reluctantly smile herself.
This could get interesting.
-----
Sorry for the extremely delayed updates. I appreciate all the emails, and apologize to those who I didn't manage to respond to. Please keep on reviewing, and indicate any recommendations or proposals you guys have on the story. =) Any input given is highly valued. Hopefully, I can upload the next chapter with much shorter lags.
Again, thanks!
Gorecki