Yes, it's a little late, but I never promised regular updates, did I? :-P Here's another in Serena's POV, I think I'll do more of hers than Darien's. Enjoy!
Benefits
Chapter Four: Don't Let The Days Go By
I snuggled into my blanket, and yawned as I opened my book. Darien was supposed to call me tonight, and he the phone hadn't rang yet. I looked up at the clock in my room; it was 10:15. Any moment now...he had said it was really important that he talked to me, too. I hope he was okay...
It was the first night of Christmas vacation. Finally, I had a break from all the after school rehearsals our director was making us go to for the play (it was called Moonstory), and even more so, a break from school. Finals had been taken, and the lowest grade I'd gotten on one was a 79, and that was my Integrated Physics/Chemistry final. Considering how bad I'd struggled with that class, I was quite proud of myself. There was a funny taste in my mouth from all the sugar I'd eaten today, and my mind was pleasantly sleepy. A Tori Amos song played in the background, and I finally had time to read the Anne Rice novel that my friend Lita had lent me. I did a quick listen though, making sure my parents weren't about to come in. It wasn't a book I should be reading, to say the least...
"The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, eh Bun?" my little shoulder angel asked me.
"That book is SO AWESOME!!!" shoulder devil said excitedly.
"If you like bondage and sexual torture!" shoulder angel said haughtily.
"Aw shaddup, I saw you reading my copy," the devil retorted.
I'm not crazy. I swear.
I sighed at my predicament. I'm fourteen years old (and a rather young fourteen at that, my birthday isn't til June), and reading romance novels, because I know it's the only way I'll get any kind of sexual experience for a LONG time. Like perhaps...forty. Darien and I had ended our little "benefits" with a long talk. I dunno...I'd just felt like I was being played with. We were still very good friends, still hanging out, still talking on the phone a lot...but there were just no stolen kisses or playful gropes. Things had gotten better between he and Hina since I bowed out, too.
I was in the middle of a VERY steamy scene when all of a sudden my cell phone rang. I jumped and picked up the phone, relieved to see Darien's number on the caller ID. "Hello?" I said, and squealed inwardly when his smooth, sexy tenor voice answered back with a "Hey gorgeous."
Okay, I was still VERY MUCH ATTRACTED (underline, circle, and bold that) to him.
"Hey!" I said cheerfully. We chatted about idle things for awhile, then there was a lull. "Hey, Bun?" he asked, his voice almost quiet and sad. I immediately became worried. "Yeah, babe?" I said, trying not to sound worried. "Can I come over?" he asked. I looked at the clock. Ten-thirty...my parents would kill me, but it was important, I'm willing to bet..."Come through my window," I said, thankful for the big picture window I had that would easily accomodate him. "Thank you," he said. "I'll be there in five." We said our goodbyes, and I waited patiently for him.
Sure enough, five minutes later, there was a rapping at my window. I opened it up, and he climbed in from the sturdy tree branch he rested on. We closed the window, and he gathered me up into a very tight hug. He hadn't hugged me like this since we both got the roles we wanted in our play. But this hug was different than that jubilant one we'd shared weeks ago. He finally let go of me, and looked at me, his dark blue eyes full of sorrow. "She broke up with me," he whispered. I gasped, my own baby-blue eyes widening. "Oh no!" I whispered back (my walls are kinda thin, if my parents heard us, I'd be dead!)
We laid down on my full-sized bed, covering up with the lilac blanket that was printed with bunnies, moons, and stars. Our hands clasped, laying on our sides, he whispered all of the details to me as "Glycerine" by Bush played in the background. Towards the middle of the story, Darien wound up in my arms, his head against my chest, and I found my hands running through his coal-black hair. I listened to every detail that slipped out, hushed, from his lips. She had been cheating on him for quite some time...and had finally decided to end it between them. I could feel his pain seep into me, and nearly wept for him.
When he'd finished, he looked up at me, his beautiful eyes meeting mine, looking very sorrowful and pleading. "Serena," he whispered, using my given name for the first time in ages. "What am I going to do without her?" I opened my mouth, and then shut it again. I tried once more. "I don't know, baby," I whispered back. He and Hina had been together for over a year, this I knew. He let go of me, and turned away. I slid one finger under his chin, and saw his eyes were filled with tears that threatened to spill over. One lone droplet finally let go, and I felt my heart shatter into a million fragments. I did something surprisingly gentle for me...
I leaned over, and kissed that one tear drop as it fell, banishing it from his cheek. "Tears usually don't suit you, Darien," I said softly. "But tonight's unusual." He nearly flung himself into my arms, and for the first time in my life, I held a nearly grown man as he sobbed his heart out into my chest. My heart ached with his...I hated to see my Darien like this...
Chapter four: end