Hi Minna!! I am beyond thrilled to be back!! I haven't been reading much though lately... to busy I guess. Ok! Enough about me...ON WITH THE STORY!!

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I felt sort of bad...I know I should tell Darien that I know Andrew, I just....don't want to lose the only prospect of a friend I've ever had. Even if he's not a true friend, he's as close as I've ever gotten and probably the closest I'll ever get.

But he had a huge smile on his face. Maybe he really enjoys my company. Or maybe it's just because he kicked my butt in Ultimate Sailor V. He looked over at me as we were walking down the sidewalk to his apartment. "So...When is our rematch?" he questioned.

I wanted to say when hell's a snow globe. "As soon as I brush up on my fighting skills." I said instead.

"So in other words...you mean when hell's a snow globe." he grinned evilly.

"Ha. Ha. Funny." Actually I was trying really hard not to crack up laughing.

"Come on you know I'm hilarious!" he retorted back.

"Yeah...like measles."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Your move." I said with a sigh.

"No. It's your go." Darien said, staring at the checker board that rested on the living room floor of Darien's apartment.

"Is it really?"

He nodded, "For the past ten minutes."

"Oops." I moved. It looked like a great move. I just knew I was going in for the kill. I was about to win!

He double jumped me. That left me with two checkers to his six.

"You suck." I said dryly. I can't beat him.

"Yeah..." he grinned back at me. I felt one growing on my face. It was night now and I'd already asked Darien if I could stay here for a while. He said he was happy to have some live-in company.

"I quit. I'm sleepy." he said. I think he did just because he didn't want to beat me again. I think really was trying hard to lose that game so we could be even. I can't help it I'm a sorry checker player.

He disappeared for a second down the hallway and returned with a blanket and a pillow. He threw them onto the couch, crawled under the blanket and said, " 'Night!"

"What are you doing? I'm sleeping there." I said, prepared to throw him out of my spot.

"Uh-uh." he said, "you got the couch last night! Now it's MY turn!"

"Darien. Quit acting like you want the couch. I am not about to put you out of your own bedroom. I'm doing bad enough just having you put up with me-" he cut me off.

"What do you mean 'making me put up with you' ? I want you here." He said standing up. "You act like you don't deserve to be in anyone's company. Why do you hate yourself so much?!"

I think he was starting to get mad. Maybe he really did like me. "I've seen other people constantly hate me. It the same concept with riding a bike. If you've never seen anyone ride one...you can't ride it. You wouldn't know how. I've never been loved...I don't think I know how to love myself."

I saw tears forming in the rims of his eyes. For me? No. Nobody was that dumb. He leaned over and whispered, "But Serena... I love you."