The petite blond teenager walked quickly around the decoration clad store as if trying to avoid somebody. Unfortunately for her it was a very small gift shop so she wasn't doing a very good job of shaking off the tall man that seemed to want to do the exact opposite.

"Wait, so you two had a 'thing'?...what do you mean by a 'thing'?" The man in question had become increasingly annoying to the girl who seemed to try every tactic to get him out of her hair.

Serena was looking at a card that seemed nice enough. It had a sweet message inside; something about being special and loved and missed. It seemed appropriate enough.

" I... dunno when Christy said he was coming back the look on your face-

"DROP IT! James drop it, he was my first boyfriend that's all, it was a long time ago. Drop it"

"I'm sorry. I...I'm just worried about you"

Serena smiled up at the apologetic, handsome man. God he was handsome. It was obvious even to her that the man was smitten with her and she couldn't think of a single reason why she couldn't be smitten with him. But she wasn't. It made it all the more upsetting to her that even though he was perfect she didn't have the same feelings towards him that he did for her.

"I know James, I just need time to myself sometimes...you know. It's not your fault I've just got some things to sort out in my head" Serena couldn't bare to look at James.

It killed her that people felt that she was so vulnerable and she hated that he felt sorry for her. Darien seemed to be he only guy she had met who thought that she could at least look after herself...well she wasn't too sure of herself now that he was in London.

Unfortunately for Serena, she was soon to find out that she was even more vulnerable than she had ever fathomed.

Away from the bubbly village centre Serena walked towards her home. She was happy to be away from all the hustle and bustle of last minute christmas shoppers. As if mirroring her un-Christmas like thoughts from where she was she could hear the Christmas carols of the dozens of shops behind her playing at the same time in an eerie, mashed-up almost frightening melody.

"Let me hold that-

"I'm okay"

"Alright i'm sorry"

That was pretty much the whole conversation between the Serena and James as they now walked down the familiar quiet route to Serena's house.

This was how it had been since Darien had left. Boring. Awkward.

Now at Christmas Eve Serena already looked forward to University lectures again.

"Are you going to be seeing your mother for Christmas then?" Serena asked becoming too uncomfortable in the silence.

"Serena, I love you! love me back...please?"

It may have been the fact that he said please or maybe it may have been the fact that he had asked Serena out more than countable times already since Darien had gone to London. She didn't know how often she had to let him know that they were just friends for him to finally just be happy for them to be ,JUST FRIENDS.

"What's funny? I don't understand?" the tall man stamped his boot in the grassy ground, almost childishly, his hands flung out wildly around him as if doing it would give him a quicker answer.

It was a while when Serena's laughter subsided. Maybe if she thought to stop laughing she would have realised that James did not seem so amused and that perfect James could have a temper

"WHAT SERENA! WHAT'S SO FUCKIN' FUNNY, HUH?"You think its funny that because you're pretty you can trample over people's feelings?."

James inched closer and closer. He was different somehow. He no longer had he's trademark aristocrat stance but instead there was a swagger. He's upper class accent no longer existed instead replaced by a cockney drawl.

" If you liked Darien so much why coont ya have told 'im"

RUN RUN . If only she could move her legs.

"well guess what he's gone and once he settles back in London he'll find a glamorous London girl and forget you" Then he laughed, an uncharacteristic cold laugh.

"You're pathetic Serena"

As if waking up for the first time Serena realised just how much she at that moment had taken for granted.

How right then it was pitch black winter evening where there were no lights or people.
This was the kind of situation that Darien would have prevented. He would have reminded her of the risk. If James wanted to kill her right then these would be her last breaths.

"Aww..Serena did I scare you?" he was so close. So close she could feel he's warm breath on her cheek, he's cold nose hovering above her ear. And then he whispered:

"Jus' know that if I can't 'ave you no one can".

Confused I'm sorry but everything will become clearer in chapters to come. As usual tell me what you think.

Love u long time

RubyDiamond17 xx