CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER ONE Darien watched from afar as Serina stood at the entrance of the football field, waiting for her name to be called for the rehearsal.  She wore a black low cut shirt with a pair of black pants.  Her beautiful blond hair was let loose and flowed past her mid thigh.  She was right behind Tracy, who had the third highest GPA in the senior class.  Tracy wore a bright blue shirt with jeans; her black hair was put up with a small clip.   "Serina, we are still going out for your birthday on Saturday right?"  Tracy whispered as she turned around.  The teachers hated it when they talked. "Yeah, the party is at the civic center and don't forget, Darien's birthday is the same day."  Serina smiled as she thought about Darien.  "I wont, you remind me every day about it, I think you really like him."  Serina smiled and shoved Tracy a little. "I so do not!  He is like my best friend."  She rolled her eyes as Tracy argued with her, even though she knew it was true.  "Yeah Whatever."  There was only three more days until their graduation as well as Serina's 18th birthday.  Serina looked across the field and saw Darien.  He stood so straight and proud, Serina figured it was because there was a group of cheerleaders that was surrounding him. "Girls, I told you already, I have a girlfriend."  Darien stated as he waved his hands trying to get out of seven dates.  He knew that he didn't officially have a girlfriend yet, but he would soon enough.  He smiled over at Serina, not knowing if she could see him or not. Darien excused himself and walked across the field where the rehearsal had ended and put his arm around Serina and smiled down at her.  She saw the desperate look on his face that said please-help-me-I-am-being-chased-by-crazy-cheerleaders, and wrapped her arm around his waist.  "You owe me big for this Darien.  Even though it is funny to see their faces."  Darien looked over where Serina was, and had to admit.  The hanging jaw look on the girls was absolutely priceless. "I know."  He walked her back into the school and gently patted her back.  "See you later."   He waved and left her along. After school Serina walked along the road the way she always did, it was only a few blocks away from her house and she liked the exercise.  She always stopped at the arcade and grabbed a coke then went home.  She walked into the brightly colored arcade and spotted Darien at his usual stool next to the counter.  She use to go into the arcade all through junior high and play the games for hours at a time, but now she out grew that.  She slowly walked up to him and put her arm around him and gave him a little kissed on the cheek.  "Hey Serina, what can I get you?"  The blond headed waiter asked. "Just a coke."  The waiter nodded and walked behind the counter.  "Hey Dare, whatcha doin?"  She sat cheerfully on the stool next to him.  He smiled as he looked into her baby blue eyes, which matched his exactly. "Nothing, just waiting for my daily kiss I get from you sweetheart."  He winked at her and wrapped his arm around her.  She just laughed and nudged him.  She could feel herself wanting to be closer to him, and his outfit did not help any bit.  He wore a pair of black jeans, boots, and a tight white shirt, which showed, off his muscles. "You are such a flirt Darien."  He turned his head a little and gave her an astonished look.  The waiter set down her coke.  "Thanks Tommy."  She took a sip. "Moi, a flirt?  I highly doubt that.  It is you my dear that is a flirt."  He took her small black purse away from her and pulled out her agenda and opened it to the first week of January.  "Ok, lets see here, in this week alone, you have been out with how many guys?"  He started to count, but she took it away from him. "Well… I am just trying to find my perfect guy, at least I don't go around and get thirty different phone numbers from different girls at the mall."  She smiled, as she finally defeated him.  She always feels her heart break when she sees him with another girl. "So what, they give them to me."  He stated while taking a drink of her coke.  She smacked his hand and took the drink away from him. "Yeah, but who starts to say 'oh my heavens above, where did this angel come from?'"  Darien started to laugh. "I don't say that."  He said, lying through his teeth. "Yes you do, I have seen it before, you did that to almost every girl in Johnson High, well all the ones with boobs, before you graduated."  He rolled his eyes. "Those were good times."  He smiled while looking into space. Serina looked over at the grinning idiot that sat next to her and had to laugh at the picture.  Darien was totally out of it, looking straight into the mirror behind the bar, what Serina thought he was looking at himself, but he was looking at her.  He closed his eyes for a minute thinking what it would be like to hold her in his arms and kiss the living daylights out of her.  He was taken out of his trance by a small punch from the lovely lady at his right. "Hey, got a question for ya."  He raised an eyebrow.  "Why is it that I always give you a hello kiss but you never once gave me one?"  She gave him a little pout, which always made him yield down to her, even as kids. "Why do you want one?"  He smiled gently, in a way teasing her.  "I didn't say that, just forget it."  Darien's smile vanished, he didn't want to drop the subject, he had been waiting too long to get this chance. "I can't just forget it, you asked so I will tell you, the reason I don't is because you never asked."  He smiled.  "And now…well you asked for it."  He stood up and walked closer to her.  "I will have to say good-bye instead of hello."  He touched her soft pinkish cheek with his hand and gently moved it down to her lips, spreading them apart slightly.  She gasped at just the touch, and held her breath as she saw his head coming down closer to hers.  Finally their lips met, only for a few seconds but it was like an eternity.  Both of their hearts just melted.  "Good-bye" Darien waved at her as he walked out of the door.  It took all his strength to walk without turning around and kissing her again.  At the same time he left her in total awe.  She watched him leave and staid watching, hoping that he would come back.  Tommy was just as shocked as Serina was.  He had been their friend for a few years now, and never expected that to happen. "Close your mouth Serina, you will catch flies, or hopefully some kind of deathly disease."  She closed her mouth and turned around to see her brother, Josh, standing there.  "What is with you, you look like you just saw a ghost or something?" "Pretty damn close!  Darien…Darien…kissed me."  Josh stared at her and shrugged his shoulders. "You kiss him all the time, no biggie."  Serina shook her head. "No, he KISSED me, for real, not just the everyday crap I pull but really kissed me."  Josh just stood there; his best friend wouldn't do that to his sister.  Or would he? "I'll see you at home."  He waved as he ran out the door.  Man this is too sweet to not know.  He chuckled to himself as he ran down the street. "Josh where are you going?"  She yelled but he was out of sight. Darien sat in his apartment thinking about what he had just done.  He had kissed his best friend's sister.  Not only that but she is like a sister to him, but also he does get jealous when she flirts with other guys.  He had a crush on Serina a few years ago, and it was big, but he pushed the thought away. "Darien!  Hey man, I gotta talk to you."  Josh pounded on the door of Darien's apartment.  He quickly got in once Darien unlocked the door.  "Hey man, did you really kiss Sere?"  "Yeah, hey look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."  Josh put up his hand to shut Darien up.  Oh shit I am really in trouble now! "Chill out dude.  I am actually happy bout it.  I just thought it would not take this long for you to do it that's all."  Darien looked at his best friend, not understanding a word that was being said.  "I am not following." "Dude, I know you have wanted to kiss Serina ever since she grew boobs, which was in the seventh grade, and now you finally did it."  Darien just blushed at that thought, he remembered that when he was in ninth grade he accidentally walked into the bathroom while Serina was undressing. "I'm glad you think this is so cool, but I have a bigger problem."  He said as he plopped down on the couch.  "No you don't, Sere has always liked you, but never let anyone know."  Darien's eyes were wide open. "How did you get her to tell you?"  "Well I didn't but I can show you in her diary where she says, and I quote, 'Darien is so hott, I don't know why he hasn't asked me out.  If he only knew how much I would love to go out with him, then maybe he would get up the nerve to just ask me.'"  Josh said in a little girl's voice.  "Whatever, like she would say something like that."  I could only dream of that. "I swear, she did, and just last week too."  Darien just laughed.  "Man I am serious, why else do you think she kisses you each time she sees you?"  Josh knew that Darien had no clue, and even though Serina didn't exactly write those exact words, he knew it would work.  I am so bad.  Josh said to himself and laughed a little. "She does that for everyone."  Darien said, remembering the first time Serina ever kissed him on the cheek or anywhere for that fact.  It was after a gymnastics meet that Serina was in and she won the gold medal.  She was so excited that she didn't know what she was doing.  Darien liked it whither she meant it or not. "No man, she just started it with you because that is as close she could get to you without you suspecting anything."  Josh thought of a brilliant plan.  "Hey why don't you come to dinner tonight, that way you can talk to Sere."  Darien's heart began to do flips in his chest. "I can do that, what time?" "Bout 5:30ish."  Darien nodded and patted Josh on his back and led him out the door.  Once Josh left, Darien just leaned on the large door and slid down to the floor and smiled.  "5:30 my dreams will come true."  He smiled again and looked at his Rolex watch, which he received after the death of his father.  "It is already 4!"  He jumped up and ran to the shower. Lindsay, Tracy, Allison and Renee were all walking around the mall, searching for Serina and Darien's birthday presents.  Each of them wore their mall clothes that consisted of a black skirt and a red or white shirt.  They walked past many stores trying to find the perfect present.  "Do you believe that Serina is gonna be 18?"  Lindsay asked, who was holding a small bag from Victoria Secret.  Inside were a small thong and a see through bra.  She though Darien deserved a gag gift since he is always complaining that none of them ever wore anything revealing.  The other girls loved the idea of playing jokes on Darien, but they were not thoughtful like Lindsay.  "Yeah, although she seems older than us all.  I mean she is always dependable and responsible, unlike some of us."  Allison glared over to Renee. "That's why I hang around Sere.  She keeps me on task.  We make the perfect team."  They continued their walk until they heard John called after them. "Allison!  Wait up a min."  The girls turned around and looked up at John, Kyle, James and Josh.  "What are you lovely girls up to?"  Asked John, Allison's boyfriend.  "Probably the same as you gorgeous guys, buying presents."  Allison answered with a slight smile. "Presents?  Us?  Naw, we are here to scope out the women."  He said while rubbing his hands together and licking his lips.  The rest of the guys agreed with him. "Why don't you girls allow us to buy you dinner?"  Kyle looked right at Tracy, who just happened to be his girlfriend for 2 years. "Why don't we let you?"  Each of the girls walked alongside their boyfriends to the café. The café was large and decorated in all sorts of French items, although it served hamburgers and French fries.  The girls always joked about how the fries were the only things that really gave any meaning to the decorations, since after all they were French Fries.  "Josh, is it true what I heard today?  Did Darien really kiss Serina this morning?"  All the girls watched closely, waiting for Josh to clear up the rumor. "Um…well, yeah, he did kiss her.  Not only did he kiss her, but she basically asked for it."  He smiled, he loved to gossip even though he knew it was a girl thing.  "She asked him why he never kissed her hello or anything and he simply answered by kissing her."  The girls all sighed. "You're kidding right?  I mean I never thought Serina would ever kiss Darien, in that way at least."  "I did.  She is always talking about him and then saying he is just one of her best friends, but I know what is going on in her little head."  Tracy replied to her boyfriend.  Josh looked down at his watch and let out a sigh. "I'm late again, I know Darien is going to freak.  I was supposed to be at the house ten minutes ago."  He kissed Renee goodbye and left. Darien pulled up to the Stevens' driveway, right behind Serina's red convertible, which she got for her 16th birthday. Serina's father is a computer software genius, and there was no doubt that they had money.  The house was three stories tall, along with a four-car garage.  It was painted white and green and had large glass French doors.  Darien spent a lot of his childhood life in the house, mainly because of Josh, but Serina being there was a bonus. Darien walked up to the door and rung the doorbell, a few seconds later a young lady opened the door.  She was about 5 feet and 7 inches, as tall as Serina.  She had medium length brown hair that was braided down the back, and wore a white outfit along with a blue apron.  She smiled as she let Darien in the house. "Hello Darien, Josh called and told us that you were to be coming over for dinner.  It will be ready in about a half an hour."  She took his letterman jacket and hung it in the closet. "Thank you Glenda, is Josh in?"  She shook her head. "No, but Serina is upstairs in the pool room.  She says that she is practicing, but she has not hit a single ball yet, I think something happened today, but she wont tell me."  Darien smiled and patted the women's shoulder. "I think I know what happened, I will talk to her, I will see you at dinner Glenda."  He walked through the foyer and up the white stairs that had a railing that wrapped around the pole that led upstairs.  Once up the first flight of stairs, he walked into the door on the right.  It was a large oak door, with a gold knob.  He poked his head through the door.  The pool balls were still in its original rack and all the cues were still in their places.  He looked around the room and he saw her sitting next to the built in bar with a glass of coke.  She turned her head when she heard him walk into the room.  Her eyes were puffy and red, as if she has been crying.  "Serina?  Are you ok?"  She shook her head.  "What's wrong?"  He walked over to her and sat on the barstool next to her.  Oh god, did I cause this?  "Its nothing Darien, don't worry about it."  She turned away from him and back to her coke, which was warm since all the ice was melted.  She didn't want him to see her the way she was, she looked like she was just hit by a train several times. "Serina, I will not leave until I know what is going on with you.  You have been crying and I want to know why."  He put his hand on her shoulder.  He twisted her chair so that she was facing him.  She wanted to twist back but he set his legs on each side of hers, forcing her to look at him. "Darien please."  She pleaded, wanting to go.  Tears started to run down her face slowly.  "Serina, why won't you tell me?"  He wiped the tears off her cheek with the back of his hand.  He left his hand on her chin and held it in place as it quivered.  "Darien, I can't let you know."  "Why not?" "Because you are the problem!"  Darien was dumbfounded.  He dropped his hands in his lap and looked in her eyes.  They were so sad, and un-shinny.  "Darien, you kissed me, that was not suppose to happen.  I was fine, but then you kissed me and now I am so confused, I think one thing then I talk myself out of it, I got as far as to think you did it to just play with my head.  And-" She was stopped by Darien's lips to hers.  It didn't last long, but it was more then the first. "Serina, I didn't do it to play with your head."  He placed his forehead to hers and rested it there.  Both of their breathing started to quicken. "Then why?" "Because, I really love you.  I wanted to find out if this could work.  I'm just as confused as you and I still don't understand what is going on with me.  It is not easy to be head over heals for your best friends sister and not let anyone know, afraid of what will be thought of you."  He paused.  "I don't like feeling that I cant do anything right, all I want to do is please you and look what I did, I made you cry and feel used.  I don't like that at all."  "I know exactly what you mean.  Exactly…" She sniffled and pulled Darien closer to her and kissed him, with so much passion, and hungriness.  Darien opened his mouth and coaxed her to open hers with his tongue.  She obliged and did what he wanted.  They moved closer, and wrapped their arms around each other.  "Darien, Serina dinner is-" Glenda opened the party room door but stopped when she saw the two kissing.  They stopped and, with embarrassed faces, looked up at the maid.  "Thank you Glenda, we shall be down in a moment."  Serina said, while trying to keep a straight face. "Yes Serina."  She quickly walked out of the room.  Serina turned back to Darien and smiled. "Everyone in the state will know what happened in the next hour.  Darien I am sorry."  Darien smiled and pushed her hair behind her ear.  His breathing was still heavy, and his body eager for more. "There is nothing to be sorry about Serina."  He kissed the side of her mouth.  "Hey, how would you like to go see the new movie on Friday?"  She smiled. "Are asking me out?"  He nodded his head.  "Well then, sure, I would love to go."  "Great, now I think we outta get you cleaned up so we can eat, I'm starved."  She nodded and hopped off the stool and walked out of the room, Darien right behind her.  They walked down the hall a little bit to the bathroom.  It was fairly large, double sinks, medicine cabinets, a large tub, and a separate room for the toilet.  Darien grabbed a washcloth from the closet and got it damp.  He sat her on the counter and with the washcloth he slowly wiped the dried tears away. "You know Darien, I am capable of doing this myself."  He nodded his head and rinsed the rag in the tile sink. "I know, but it is more fun to do it this way, besides, it gives me a reason to touch you."  Serina giggled a little.  Darien laughed at her. "What?" "You giggled, just like a middle school girl who has a crush, it is so cute."  She smiled and rolled her eyes.  "Well, there is some truth there."  She smiled up at him.  "I do have a very very large crush, but I am no longer a school girl." She pulled his shirt collar and him closer to her.  She snaked her fingers up into his hair and pulled him closer.  Darien raised his hands around her neck and pulled her head closer to his and kissed her.  Josh walked in the house a little after six.  He hung up his coat and put his keys on the glass table by the door.  He was about to go upstairs when Glenda came down and blocked his way.  "You don't want to go up there."  She shook her head, still in shock.  She knew that the two had a crush on each other but didn't think they would ever admit to it.  "Why not?" "Well I think there is something going on between Darien and Serina."  She said quietly. "Why do you say that?"  He lifted his eyebrow, awaiting her answer.  I knew this would work. "Well, I just came from up there, and I accidentally interrupted Serina and Darien's very intimate kiss.  Once I left I know they started it up again."  Josh just smiled and walked the rest of the way up the stairs.  "Don't say I didn't warn you!"  Glenda called from the bottom of the stairs.  Josh waved down to her so she would shut up.  He reached for the party room door but when he did, nobody was there.  He walked down the hall to the other game room on the opposite side of the floor, but when he passed the bathroom Serina came out at the same time and she fell back onto Darien causing them both to fall.  Josh just stood there and laughed as he saw them fall.  Serina was on top of Darien, who just held her in her place.  "Are you guys alright?"  Josh said in between laughs.  "Yes, no thanks to you Josh."  She struggled to get up.  "Why were you two in the bathroom anyway?"  He asked suspiciously. "It is none of your damn business."  Darien held her down against his body.  "Let go of me, I will get him!"  "Josh, you better run and get a head start before I let her go."  Josh did just that, he ran down stairs.  Darien stood up and pulled Serina up with him.  She was about to run off but Darien grabbed her.  "Hang on a sec."  He pulled her close to his chest and gave her a short little kiss.  "Ok, now you can go get him."  "Thanks."  She ran after her brother. "He really did that?" "Yes, Renee why would I lie to you about this?"  Serina laid on her king size bed, with her bright pink phone in her hand.  Her legs dangled off the bottom of the bed.  "Well lets see, you have wanted Darien to kiss you since you were twelve and knew that Darien was actually the perfect guy for you." "I am for real, after dinner we left the room and came up here.  We were going to talk about what was going on between us but we ended up making out after we were declared a couple.  If you don't believe me I will show you why I have to wear turtle necks for a few days."  Serina touched the spot on her neck where Darien "accidentally" gave her a "love bite".  She just smiled. "No Sere, I believe you.  So you are officially together now?"  "Yep, but one thing I don't really like is that we have been going out for less then 24 hours and already we have made out.  What else can I give him without giving myself up to him?  I am afraid that he will get tired of me or something."   "Sere, Darien is not like that, and you know it.  If you are not fully comfortable with this all, then you need to talk to him and before you go to the movies on Friday." "Thanks Renee, you helped me out a lot."  She turned over and got off her bed.  "I will talk to you tomorrow.  Bye bye."  "Bye."  Serina hung up the phone jumped off her bed.  She picked up some dirty clothes that was on the floor and took it downstairs to the laundry room.  When she walked out of the laundry room she spotted Glenda doing the dishes in the kitchen.  Poor Glenda, mama doesn't see that she needs a break. She walked into the kitchen where Glenda was cleaning up.  The kitchen was fairly large, there was a counter where bar stools were set up, and an island in the middle with the stove there.  The tops of the counters were blue and the cabinets were white.  Serina grabbed a small apron and put it on so her clothes wouldn't get messed up.    "Hey Glenda, what can I do to help?"  The maid turned around and looked at Serina.  Serina never offered to help unless she wanted something. "Um, sure, you could dry the dishes while I wash them."  She gave Serina a rag and she started to dry. "Glenda, why is it that you never go out?"  She put away one of the flowered china plates that they ate on that night. "Well…I guess I don't ever go cause I don't really have anyone to go with or anything to wear."  She gave Serina another dish.  "Why?" "Well, I want to go out for an hour or so, but I don't have anyone to go with, so I was hoping you will come with me.  It will be a lot of fun, besides, you could meet a really cute guy."  Serina taunted her.  Glenda shook her head.  "Awe come on, please."  She gave her a puppy dogface, which nobody could resist. "Ok, after we finish these.  I still don't have anything to wear."  Serina put away another plate and started drying another. "Well, what size do you wear?" "I believe a two."  "I think I have a dress in a two, last summer I was to big for my ones so I had to buy a two, but now I fit back into my zero's."  Serina just laughed as Glenda rolled her eyes. The two girls walked into Hip-Huggers, which was the club Serina always went to.  Serina had on a baby blue dress that went up to her mid thigh, and had a very low cut neck, along with her light blue 3-inch heels.  Her hair was pulled up half way, and the rest was over her shoulders.  Glenda wore a short red dress with no straps and had a slit on both sides; she also had on Serina's red high-healed shoes. "Hey John, how are you this evening?"  She asked the buff guard at the front gate. "I am good Serina, who is your friend?"  He asked as he winked at Glenda. "This is Glenda."  The guard smiled at Glenda and let them in without any hesitation.  He was one of Serina's friends from a long time ago.  The club had a wall length bar and a stage with a few poles, which several girls were dancing on. "You know how to dance right?"  Glenda smiled and nodded.  "Good, well let's get out there."  The girls walked out into the middle of the room and started to dance.  "Hey Serina!  I didn't expect to see you here tonight."  A guy with long brown hair came up to the two. "Hey Tim, I would like you to meet my friend Glenda."  They shook hands.  "Why don't you take Glenda and dance."  She led them away and smiled as they began to dance.  Not even ten minuets later Glenda was dancing with this other really hott guy.  Serina smiled; even though she was not dancing with anyone she was still having fun.  She knew that Glenda needed some time out, and her mom didn't really think of giving her a rest. "May I have this dance?"  Serina turned around to see who was there, but before she was able he stopped her and pulled her close to him.  "Let's dance Sere."  She automatically knew that it was Darien.  She nodded, and started to rub her hip into his.  There was no doubt that Serina and Darien could dance.  When they were little they won first place in a dancing contest, of coarse it was in ballroom dancing.  "It has been so long since we danced Darien."  "Too long."  Darien wrapped his hands around her and pulled her closer.  She grabbed his hands and guided them around her body; he finally could not stand her not facing him.  He turned her around and placed his leg in between hers and started to move.  Her skinny leg rubbed up on his grind, which he groaned every time she did that.  Serina rubbed her hands up and down his chest, then finally wrapped them around his neck and pulled him closer to her.  Across the room watching them was a group of guys that knew Serina very well.  They all had brown hair and were almost the same height as Darien.  Each time she went to the club she danced with them, except for tonight.  They smiled knowing whom Serina was with.  She always talked about Darien and she showed them pictures and everything.  After a while Serina and Darien sat down at the bar and Serina ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri and Darien had a coke.  They watched as Glenda danced on one of the poles.  They had been there for over three hours, and it was now one a.m.  "I think it is time to go."  Serina called out to Darien.  He nodded his head and began to get up.  "I will get Glenda."  Serina crawled up on the stage and got Glenda from the pole and the girls and Darien walked out of the club.  Glenda struggled to walk and fell to the ground. "She is wasted."  Darien said as she shook his head.  Serina bent down to help her get up.  "I got her."  Darien picked her up over his shoulders and carried her the rest of the way to Serina's car.  Darien helped Serina get Glenda into the back seat of the car, and then kissed Serina on the cheek to say good-bye.  Serina got in the car and drove home. They got home a little after 1:30 in the morning.  Serina got out of the car and went to the other side and helped Glenda out.  She helped her to her room, which was on the bottom floor, and got her dressed in nightclothes and into bed.  Serina tiredly walked up the stairs to her room and fell onto her bed.  She set her alarm to get up at six for school, and changed her clothes after prying herself out of the bed.  Finally she was able to sleep.