Hey guys back with another chapter! Shouts 2 Michelle & my overly-obsessed w/ my life friend Chris: You're weird! And you need 2 put my pic on my myspace! PLEASE! Ok guys let's get it crackin'.

Disclaimer- SM isn't mine…I wish it was…and I wish the show would be back or I could at least afford the box set of the whole thing:-( and I don't own Puma shoe company either…BUT I OWN A PAIR!

: Last Time :

"Well if you need to…"

Is Darien…?

"And if you don't mind me…"

AWW! This is too sweet of him!

"I'll walk you home."

: This Time :

Oh my gosh! I can't believe Darien just asked to walk me home! That is SO sweet of him! Is there ANYTHING wrong with this guy? I swear, he's the perfect man!

"Um…well, sure…I mean, if you don't mind…"

"OF COURSE NOT!" He slammed his hand over his mouth. "…I mean…no, I don't mind at all!"

"OK then I guess we could leave in a few minutes…"

"All right, that's cool with me. You want anything before we go?"

"Nah, I'm having dinner as soon as I get home."

"Okay, then let me grab some coffee and we'll go."

"COFFEE? Ewww, how can you drink that? I think it tastes so…BLECH!" I shivered.

"WHAT? How could you not like coffee!"

"I don't know, I just don't like the taste of it…"

"I LOVE my coffee, nice and black. I don't think I could go on without it! It's my caffeine boost."

"Call me childish, but my caffeine boost is chocolate milk!"

He chuckled. "I liked chocolate milk when I was a kid, but it just doesn't do it for me anymore…"

"Well that's because you haven't had MY chocolate milk! It's the best and believe me, it gives you a HUGE caffeine boost! HELLO! Just look at me! I'm ALWAYS wired!

We both laughed.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll have to try your milk sometime then, won't I?" he said in a semi-seductive voice.

"I guess you will…wink, wink!" I answered, just as seductive.

I giggled and he gave me that trademark chuckle of his again.

So Dar ordered his coffee and downed it in a few sips. While he was drinking my phone rang. I figured it was just mom.

"Hello?"

"Hi! Is this Serena?"

"Um yes, who's this?"

"Oh my gosh Rena! You don't even recognize your own cousin's voice!"

"Sorry, but NO I don't…"

"It's Alex LOSER!"

"Oh my gosh! Hey Alex! I'm sorry I didn't recognize you, but you know it's been so long!"

"Yeah, WHATEVER Serena!" she said with a burst of fake attitude. She even snapped her fingers at me! OVER THE PHONE! We both burst out laughing.

"Oh my goodness Alex you've always been such a dork."

"So! You love me anyways!"

We both laughed again.

"So, hey where the heck are you calling me from! Aren't you still off 'studying abroad'!" I said in a super sarcastic tone.

"No loser, I got sick and tired of Europe!"

"Are you serious? You got sick…OF EUROPE?"

"………………………NO! I don't think it's physically possible!"

We both burst out laughing again.

"Seriously, I'm totally homesick and the traveling is finished, so I'm done studying…"

"I'M COMING HOME DIMWIT!"

"OH! Sorry about that! OH MY GOSH! Alex you're coming home! That's awesome!"

"Yeah I am! And guess where I'm gonna start school at in two days?"

"Where? Oh my gosh, is it that super cool design school that just opened?"

"No silly that's a college! I'm still in high school…HELLO! We're the same age!"

"I know that! I just thought that was like a high school program!"

"Um no! The only high school in the area that has a design program is the one I'M going to!"

"So, where is it?"

"VALLEY HILL HIGH SCHOOL!"

"OH MY GOD!"

"Serena?"

"OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH! OH! MY! GOSH!"

"HELLO? Are you okay Rena?"

"Al, that's the high school I'm going to right NOW!"

"ARE YOU SERIOUS! And my mother didn't tell me anything! She's so gonna pay! Oh my gosh we're gonna go to school together Rena!"

"Oh my gosh Al this is so exciting!"

I felt someone tap my shoulder and turned around. It was Darien and he was frantically pointing at the clock. I turned and looked at it. HOLY CRAP! It's almost 6:00 I gotta run!

"Hey Alex, I'm gonna have to call ya when I get home because I'm running late for dinner!"

"Okay, just call me back at this number."

"Okay I will. Talk to you later, love ya, bye!"

"Later!"

And I clicked.

"C'mon lets go or you're gonna be late!"

"I know! Sorry about that, Alex talks a lot!"

"Uh, yeah, who is Alex anyways? Someone I should worry about?"

"Well what exactly do you mean?"

"I mean, does this person pose a threat to me and what I'm trying to accomplish here?"

"Well I guess that depends on what you're trying to accomplish…"

"You know what I want…" He winked and gave me a smirk.

"Well you'll just have to think of a way to get that then won't you?"

"I guess I will…but back to the point."

"Oh right, who's Alex…"

"Uh, yeah who is he?"

"SHE is my cousin. I got all excited cause she's finally coming back after studying abroad for a few years. Plus she's gonna start school with us in two days!"

"Oh, well that's cool. If she's as sweet as you are maybe we'll get along." He said with another wink.

I raised an eyebrow and gave him a once-over.

"What's with that look Sere?"

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or a warning to watch you and my cousin." I said with an eyebrow still quirked.

"What? Oh, Sere, I didn't mean it like that! I was trying to give you a compliment! And I'm sure your cousin doesn't measure up to you in a lot of things."

"Like what?"

"Well I haven't met her, but I'm absolutely positive she can't measure up in beauty. You're ten times more gorgeous than ANY girl I've ever seen."

"Really? You mean that?"

"Of course I do." He slipped his hand in mine. "Even though I've only known you for a day, you're the sweetest, funniest, quirkiest, most beautiful girl I've ever met…" he trailed off.

I gave his hand a squeeze and smiled at him. I couldn't believe how sweet he was being!

"Thanks for being so sweet Dar…" I blushed and looked down at my feet…GOSH MY PUMAS ARE DIRTY!

He gave my hand a squeeze back and we walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Then my cell rang. I let go of Darien's hand and answered.

"Hello?"

"Serena where are you?" At that moment, my eyes bulged to the size of a pair of satellite dishes.

"Um, hey daddy! Where am I? I'm on my way home of course!"

"Well you're running a little late sweetheart! Your mother's worried sick!"

"Oh, pish-posh! Tell her not to worry! I'm only a few blocks away!"

"You're not walking here alone are you?"

"Of course not! I brought a friend who lives not too far away."

"Well you can bring her inside if you'd like…she could even stay for dinner!"

The clattering of a pan and a very impolite whisper were heard in the background.

"OW…BUT I'm sure her mother's got dinner all ready for her at home so maybe another time!"

"Uh…yeah! Plus she's running late too! When we reach the curb she's gotta run back the other way to get home, so you won't get to meet her either."

"Aw, well that's a shame! If she's got to leave you at the curb I guess I'll meet you at some point along there honey. How's a few houses down from there?"

"That's fine dad I'll meet you there."

"Okay see you in a few minutes hon."

He hung up.

"I'm guessing that was your overprotective dad who now thinks I'M a girl."

"Good guess!"

"So I'm dropping you off at the curb?"

"Yeah, but we'll stop just…WOAH!"

DAMN these clumsy feet of mine! OH NO here comes the concrete! Better close my eyes and hold my breath…

…Hey…where's the pavement? My face doesn't hurt…neither do my palms. My knees don't sting so I guess they're not scraped. AND MY BOOBS! They don't feel flat as pancakes or painful! These are all the symptoms I usually suffer from when I go through one of my infamous klutz attacks…what's going on? And when did I tie my sweater around my waist? WHEN DID I HAVE A SWEATER WITH ME?

"Serena, are you okay?"

I opened my eyes and realized my face was a few inches away from the ground…DARIEN!

I FINALLY realized the 'sweater' wrapped around my waist was Darien's arms which were what kept me from eating it…BIG! I turned over in his arms and met stormy, ocean blue eyes. We stayed like that for a few moments until he broke the silence.

"Are you okay Sere?"

I held onto his shoulders as he pulled me into a standing position.

"Yeah, I'm fine…"

Another moment of silence. This time I broke it.

"Thanks, that was really close."

"Well, what was I supposed to do, let you fall? After all you're my girl…I'm supposed to look out for you right?"

I raised an eyebrow and grinned.

"Oh, so you save me from hitting the pavement ONCE and suddenly you're my Prince Charming and I'm your girl?"

"Why not?"

"Look, I don't know about the other girls you've dated, but I'm no easy conquest. I've got to get to know you and do more than flirt and banter before I become your so-called girl." I gave him a serious look.

He raised an eyebrow but still seemed serious.

"I'm up for the challenge." He leaned down and kissed my cheek.

Then he turned me around and gave me a gentle nudge forward to keep moving. I looked up and gave him a smile, then took his hand. He gave mine a squeeze and started talking as we walked.

"I understood where you came from with what you said…I guess I do kind of come off as a slick, cocky guy sometimes. But I really do like you. I know it seems pretty lame, we've only known each other for a day! But I'm not trying to be smooth or slick and I'm not here just to use you or 'get what I want'. I really like you Sere. A LOT!"

I looked into his eyes and saw how serious and honest he was being, so I decided to speak up.

"I'm glad you said that, because I feel the same way! I guess we just seem like two crazy teens caught up in the moment, but even though I did just meet you today, I really like you too. So I'm glad we're on the same page…"

The rest of the way to the curb there was utter silence. We were both letting what we'd just said sink in. A few minutes later we finally reached the curb. I let go of his hand and stood in front of him. We stayed like that a few moments, just looking at each other in thought. Then he took both of my hands and bent down to give me another kiss (A/N this is getting a little too mushy…EVEN FOR MY TASTE!) on my cheek. He stood up again and smiled down ate me. I giggled, stood on my tip-toes and returned the favor. Then I gave him a hug and he pulled me off my feet. I giggled more and then he put me down again.

Even though I felt like a giddy five year old, (A/N I WOULD'VE NEVER GUESSED!) it was paradise!

Dar took my hands again and rested his forehead against mine. We both smiled, and then Darien cleared his throat and spoke softly.

"Serena?"

"Yeah, Dar?"

"I've never felt this way before…"

"Me neither."

"I can't explain it…"

"It's almost…"

"Too good to be true." We said at the same time. GREAT! Now, we're finishing each other's sentences! We both laughed.

"Sere?"

"What?"

"You might think this sounds weird or silly, but…I think I'm in like with you."

I giggled and my reaction seemed to disappoint Darien.

"Well it does sound silly," I said with a smile, "but I think I'm in like with you too."

Dar smiled down at me again lifted his head and laid a kiss on my forehead. I blushed and gave him another hug, no airtime on this one.

"Well, then this is a very good thing. Two fine young people like us, both in like with each other and very happy."

"Yes and just about to say good bye! My dad is on his way here and that means YOU gotta get lost!"

I shoved him and he held his arm and feigned pain.

"Don't shove so hard! My delicate skin bruises easily you know!" he said with a chuckle. I laughed; he could be so silly sometimes.

"But alas, parting is such sweet sorrow! I'm a little scared of your dad, so I'd rather not meet him. So then I'll see ya tomorrow?"

"Yeah, same time and place! 8:05 AM English class at Valley Hill High?"

"It's a date! See ya then."

We kissed goodbye, then he turned around and ran. And might I say, those soccer legs carry him fast.

: The End :

Well guys hope you liked this chapter, I know it was pretty mushy lemma know whether you thought too much or if it was okay. I feel it was too much. But it's up to you guys. Chris- none of this happen!