Try me - part 2
By Henra
HenraM@tuxedomask.com
PG rated
Standard Disclaimer applies.
Enjoy reading, and be sure to drop me a comment! ^__^
Part two
**************
"I don't believe this, I don't believe this, I don't believe
this," Serena murmured to herself, pacing around her new room.
She sighed, and fell down on the bed. "That guy in the store…
is Darien. Darien…is that guy in the store," she said out loud, the
words clearly sinking into her.
She laughed bitterly, thinking how ironic the situation was.
Can I move out now? Would Raye mind giving me back the check?
Oh, Kansie, you are out of your mind. Why move out for a guy
like that? You can't find another place just as the semester's about
to start.
Just then, a knock was heard on her door.
"Come in," Serena said, standing up from her bed, eyes on
the door.
Raye stuck her head in, and smiled at Serena. "Hey--whoa!"
Her violet eyes widened when she saw Serena's room. She came in, and
surveyed the whole room. "Wow! I never knew the room could look like
this! You work REALLY fast, girl, let me tell you that. A few hours--
and THIS result? Damn, I need to learn how to decorate a room nice
and quick from you."
Serena laughed. "So! What's up?"
"Oh, me and Darien are thinking of going out for pizza
tonight--are you interested in going with us? And…" Raye fought to
keep cool, "Chad?"
Serena was flattered. She barely knew Raye, and she was
already asking her to go eat pizza together as if she knew her for a
long time already. "Sure," she answered with a smile. "Hey, Raye--is
it all right if I take a shower now, though? I'm all, heh, sweaty from
working around the room."
"Of course it's all right! We'll get going once Chad's home…
and that's usually around 7 during weekends. So you have about," Raye
looked at her watch, "thirty minutes."
"Good enough for me. I'll see you then," Serena said.
"Okay. Enjoy your shower!" Raye called out, walking toward the
door.
Serena laughed. I will. Oh, I definitely need a cool shower.
"Oh, good. You're home," Raye said flatly, eyeing Chad Duncan
as he walked in the front door.
"Good to see you again, too, Raye," Chad replied back, his
voice just as unenthusiastic.
Raye rolled her eyes. "We're going out for pizza--Serena, me
and Darien, and you're welcome to come along." Instantly, she cursed
herself. You said that Darien was going to tell him! Why did you open
your mouth?
Chad raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me if I want to go to
pizza with you guys?"
Raye shrugged, trying to be careless. "Darien wanted you
along."
"Oh." Chad then shrugged, too. "I don't know, if I have
nothing else to do. And wait--Serena's here already?"
"Yeah." Raye said with a smile, "she's here. She moved most
of her stuff in today, and she's going to be living here from tonight
on."
"Cool." Chad grinned. "She seems like a nice girl."
"Yeah, she is," Raye replied.
"Oh, Chad! You're home! Wanna go out for pizza with us?"
Darien appeared in the kitchen, grabbing a can of soda from the
refrigerator.
Chad glanced at Raye. "Raye already told me about it. I don't
know…maybe I'll tag along."
Darien straightened up, and shot a glance at his cousin. "Raye
already told you about it?"
Raye could already see her cousin's mind calculating what
just happened, his eyes asking a question Raye didn't even know the
answer to herself. 'Why did you ask him when you told ME to ask him?'
Maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal to anyone else, but to Darien's
eyes and mind, everything had to do with SOMETHING. Raye hoped Darien
wouldn't ask her anything.
But, thankfully, Darien didn't act on it. He just kept on
looking at Chad. "Maybe? Where else do you plan to go tonight?"
Involuntarily, Raye's attention was grabbed. She tried to
keep on looking at the book in her hands, but her ears were way into
what Chad was about to say.
"No where, really. I just--I don't know, I don't think I'm
really very welcomed," Chad said to Darien, watching Raye from the
corners of his eyes.
Hell, you are coming, Duncan, no matter what. I'm not about
to face Serena if Raye's not going to face you. But Darien just tried
casually to convince him, "Come on, what harm could it cause? We're
hungry, we're roommates, we're going out for pizza like normal friends."
He almost stumbled when he said friends, because he thought of Serena,
but he caught himself in time. Chad would surely pick out that stutter
if he made it.
Chad's eyes shifted to Raye. Raye, catching Chad looking at
her, immediately started staring at the page in the book as if it was
the most interesting thing in the whole world. Chad couldn't help but
smile. "Yeah, I guess I can go with you guys."
Darien grinned. "Cool." He shot one more look at Raye, then
at Chad, and then walked out of the kitchen, trying to figure out--for
the millionth time--what was it between Raye and Chad.
Raye went back to her book.
Chad hesitated for a moment, then started going to his room
upstairs.
Raye looked up as he walked slowly up the stairs. At that
moment, Chad also shot a look at Raye. Their gazes met, and then Raye
quickly looked away, feeling a faint blush creep up to her cheeks.
Chad continued to go upstairs.
Serena came downstairs wearing a long-sleeved tie-dyed shirt,
along with a pair of low-slung jeans.
Raye was already in the living room, hands on hips, looking
at her watch now and then. Serena smiled and called out, "Raye!"
Raye looked up, and smiled back. "Serena! God, I knew I could
count on you."
"Where's Chad and Darien?"
Raye rolled her eyes. "Chad's still in his room, and Darien's
still in the bathroom."
"Well, I'M back, so don't worry about me any longer."
Both Raye and Serena turned toward the direction of the voice,
and found Darien standing there, a smug smile on his face. "I'm not
late, am I?"
Serena fought not to notice how very attractive he looked.
The crisp navy-blue shirt just somehow made his eyes more smoldering.
Darien caught her looking at him, and gave her a smirk, which caused
Serena to look away immediately.
"Well, YOU are here, but where the hell is Chad?" Raye stomped
a foot.
"I'm here, I'm here," Chad called out, practically rolling
down the stairs because he tripped on his baggy pants on the top step.
Raye rolled her eyes. "All right, all right. Let's go."
"We'll take my car," Darien told them, walking ahead of the
others.
When they reached the Mitsubishi, Raye climbed in the backseat
immediately. Serena was about to climb in after her, but Chad beat her
to it. He flashed her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I don't like to use
seatbelts. And Raye makes whoever sit in the front seats wear them."
Serena saw Raye roll her eyes, but she also saw that her
friend then flashed a small smile at Chad. Now Serena was the only one
standing outside the jeep, staring at the seat beside Darien. She bit
her lip, hesitant.
Darien seemed to notice this. "What's wrong, Serena? Afraid
to sit beside me? Think I have the cooties or something?" He asked
casually, half-smiling.
Chad snickered, and Raye elbowed him, causing him to make a
straight face in about a second.
Serena narrowed her eyes at Darien. "Oh, very mature,
Caseley." She climbed in the seat next to Darien, closing the door
after her.
Darien went ahead and pulled out of the driveway.
"This place is so crowded," Serena commented as the four of
them made their way to a table.
Raye nodded as she looked around. "Papa Joe's always is during
weekends."
"What do you guys want?" Darien asked, sitting down and
leaning back against the leather seat.
"Pepperoni," Serena answered without thinking.
"Okay, then. I want a cheese," Darien replied, smirking at
Serena.
Serena stared at him in surprise. "I didn't ask you what
you wanted."
"Yeah, well--you wanted pepperoni, and so when you go up
there--" Darien pointed to the counter with a finger, "--and order
for the slices of pizza, order three slices of cheese for me."
Serena felt like exploding. "Excuse me? Why am I supposed to
go up there and order for you? And why the hell DO you think _I_
would go and order when I just said that I wanted pepperoni? Besides,
you were the one who asked me."
"So I asked you."
"Well, one USUALLY assumes when someone asks that, it means
that he or she is the one who's going to order."
"Well, one USUALLY assumes when one asks that, it's just
asking 'What does everyone want' and doesn't mean 'I'm going to
order for you guys.'"
Serena clenched her fists. She opened her mouth, but was
interrupted by Raye. "All right, you two! I'LL go there and order,
for god's sake, since I ALWAYS do!" Raye started toward the counter.
"Wait." Chad started after her, grabbing her wrist. "I'll
order this time,since like you said--you always do." He half-smiled at
her, and then walked to the counter, getting out his wallet.
Raye stood there, gawking after him. She turned back to their
table, and sat down slowly.
"Is Chad paying for everything?" Serena asked when Raye sat
down, "Because I brought mo--"
"It's always like that, don't worry, Serena," Raye replied,
smiling. "He pays for now, but when we go home, we then pay for what
we get."
Serena nodded.
"Are you rich or something? Because if you are--you CAN
pay for everything, you know," Darien said with an innocent smile.
"Darien!" Raye exclaimed, giving her cousin a glare.
"Although, I wonder--if you are really rich, why did you try
to open the box of milk in the store?"
Serena's eyes flashed. "That has nothing to do with me being
rich or not."
He shrugged, looking away. "Whatever."
"Chad!" Raye interrupted, relieved, before Serena could open
her mouth.
Chad looked at Raye, a smile half lit on his face. "Gee, don't
you sound happy to see me."
Raye blushed, not saying anything.
Chad sat down, also putting down a receipt on the table. "Our
number is 210, easy to remember, right? I ordered two slices of
pepperoni, three slices of cheese, and a whole sausage pizza, all
right?"
"210," Raye repeated. She looked at him, a sparkle lit in her
eyes. "You knew I wanted--sausage?"
Chad grinned easily. "I'd be dead if I don't know what kind of
pizza you like by now."
Raye nodded, and looked away, thinking how dumb her question
was. Of course he knew by now…she just never knew that since he never
ordered for them before. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Serena watched the exchange, and felt a small knowing feeling
creep up to her. She caught Darien's gaze, and from the way he was
looking at her, she could tell that he was thinking of something--
not the same--but similar.
She looked away. She glanced at him sideways and saw that he
had grinned and then turned his attention to somewhere in the other
side of the room.
Some minutes later, they heard a guy calling "Number 210!
Number 210 is ready!" The four glanced at each other, and Serena
started to get up. "I'll get them."
"But you don't--"
"Raye! Serena wants to get them, and so let her!" Darien
said, trying to sound reasonable as he watched Serena turn to go.
Raye glared at her cousin. Honestly, he could be so annoying
when he wanted to. She tried to call to Serena again, but when she
looked back, Serena had already marched up toward the 'pick-up' part
of the counter. At least Serena didn't hear that remark…Otherwise
she would be REALLY hating Darien.
Serena, unfortunately though, HAD heard it. She fought to keep
her face smiling when she received the pizzas from the worker. She
fought to keep her face cool when she reached back to the table. And
she fought not to bite Darien's head off right then and there when she
delivered the different kinds pizzas to their owners.
She finally sat down, picked up a slice of her delicious,
hot pepperoni pizza, and prepared to start eating.
"Anyone want drinks?" Darien suddenly asked, looking at
Serena.
Serena narrowed her eyes. She stayed silent. If he thinks
I'm going to answer that one like I did with the pizza, he's got
another thing coming.
"I said, anyone want any drinks?" Darien asked again.
Serena looked at Raye and Chad. They somehow didn't look
like they heard anything; both were completely focused on destroying
their pizza. She cocked an eyebrow, and wondered if there was anything
going on between Raye and Chad.
"Serena? Want any drinks?" Darien grinned at her, picking a
bite at his pizza.
Serena mouthed the words 'Go to hell.'
"Only if you come with me," Darien replied, still smiling.
It was at that moment Raye and Chad decided to pay attention.
"Who come with who to where?" They asked in unison. They looked at each
other, reddened, and then looked away, Chad focused on Darien, Raye
focused on Serena.
Both Serena and Darien raised their eyebrows at the exchange.
"Oh, we were talking about hell and stuff," Serena answered, purposely
making her voice cheerful.
"Hell?" Raye repeated.
"Yeah--it's, you know, the UNDERWORLD," Darien said in a
serious tone, wiping his mouth with a napkin roughly.
Raye rolled her eyes. "I didn't ask you." She went back to
nibbling at her pizza.
Serena gave Darien an evil eye. Darien raised an eyebrow but
said nothing.
Serena finished with her first piece of pizza, and then made
a grab for the second one on the plate. Somehow, the pizza tonight just
tasted extra delicious. Then, she caught a glimpse of long blonde hair.
Serena's eyes widened. She put down her slice, and stared in the
direction which she just saw that flash. Mina?
Then, when her eyes saw that it was just another girl with
long blonde hair, a shade a little bit darker than Mina's, she slumped
down in her seat. Stupid, stupid. Mina went away, remember? She left
yesterday night. God…I miss her already.
She looked at her half-bitten second slice of pizza. She just
lost her appetite. "Um--" Serena began, catching everyone around the
table's attention, "I'm going to--go outside for a minute, okay?" She
half-smiled, and stood up to go.
"Wait! Wha-what about your pizza?" Raye asked. "I mean--it's
going to get cold, and when it's not cold--it's not as delicious."
Serena smiled. "I'm not really that hungry anymore." She
walked to the front door. Chad, Raye, and Darien all stared after her.
Raye looked expectedly at Darien. "Well?"
"Well what?" Darien stared back at Raye, his eyes narrowed.
"Well, what did you say to her?"
Darien gaped at his cousin in disbelief. "Excuse me? What _I_
did to her?"
Raye didn't answer. She crossed her arms and leaned back in
her seat, looking crossly at her cousin.
"Raye, you were here the whole time, okay? I didn't do anything
to her." Darien took a bite on his pizza. "She fought back, anyway,"
he mumbled, looking away.
Raye threw another concerned look out the door of Papa Joe's,
and then hesitantly finished the last bite of the slice of pizza she
was holding in her hand.
Darien shifted in his seat, making a little squeaking noise
with the leather chair. His eyes darted to the half-bitten pizza that
was on Serena's plate, and unconsciously, he looked out the direction
where Serena had gone. He frowned.
It couldn't have been something that he did that got to Serena.
He was sure of that.
Serena came in a few minutes later, looking tired. She shakily
sat down beside Raye, and looked for a drink. Then she realized that no
one had ordered a drink. Shooting a glance at Darien, she warily began,
"I'm going to go buy a drink…"
Raye and Chad nodded. Serena looked at Darien, expecting him
to come up with another sorry excuse for an insult. Instead, he didn't
say anything. Just held her gaze evenly with his piercing blue eyes.
Serena stood up, breaking eye contact, and walked to the counter,
pulling out her wallet from her shoulder bag.
Darien cocked an eyebrow as he saw Serena talking with the
guy behind the counter, and then giving him some money, and came back
holding a glass of soda in her hand. "What did you buy?"
Serena sat down, eyeing him carefully, and not answering for
a moment as if considering the question was tricky. Then she answered
in a cool voice, "Cola."
"Cool. I like cola," Darien replied, half of a smile appearing
on his face.
Serena's eyes narrowed. "That's nice." She watched him as he
stretched his palms out, then snatched up the remaining slice of pizza
on his plate, and casually ate it, while the whole time never moving
his eyes away from hers. She was half-expecting him to tell her to go
and buy a cola for him.
"Well," Raye said cheerfully, dabbing her mouth with a napkin,
"I'm done. Do you guys want to go straight home or go somewhere else to
have fun?"
Chad grinned. "Go somewhere else to have fun, of course, my
lady."
Raye glanced at him, then looked at Serena and Darien. "What
do you think, guys?"
Serena looked back at Raye, and smiled. "I don't know. I'm
sort of tired…"
"Oh, come on, Serena! Already tired?! You should have fun
today! It's the beginning of the days that you're going to be living
with us!" Chad exclaimed, his grin getting wider.
"Yeah, Serena. Tired so soon?" Darien put the last bite of
pizza into his mouth, and picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth. "You
guys could go to that newly opened club."
"What? In THIS?" Raye exclaimed in disbelief, gesturing at her
blue baby tee and white slim-fitting jeans, with the dirty sneakers. "I
don't think so. And what do you mean, Darien--YOU guys?"
"I don't plan to go, actually. I, uh--promised Andrew I would
meet him at the park tonight," Darien answered casually.
"Oh." Raye's gaze dropped, then she looked between Chad and
Serena. "Well, then…if you guys don't mind, I think we should all just
go to that amusement park on Main street," Raye, brightening suddenly.
"Amusement park? At this hour?" Serena asked, blinking.
"You know--that's not a bad idea," Chad commented, a glint to
his eyes.
Serena thought about it. There was still some stuff that she
had to finish in her new room…but, of course, that could be done later.
But--she looked at Chad, then at Raye. There was something between
those two, and somehow, she didn't feel like tagging along. "Well,
I--it's probably a good idea for you guys to go somewhere…but I--really,
Raye--I'm exhausted from moving all those stuff. I just want to go home
and take some rest. I'll take a rain check, if it's okay…?" Serena
smiled apologetically at her new friend.
Raye panicked. If Serena weren't going…and Darien weren't
going…then she and Chad would be going alone…and somehow, the idea of
going to the amusement park didn't seem so fun and carefree anymore. She
turned a pleading gaze to Serena. "Serena…please?" she began, "I mean,
you're my new friend--and I want us to really have some fun together…
consider this like, like some sort of celebration of you moving in
with us."
Darien snorted. "Yeah, right, celebration."
Raye glared at him, and Serena flushed in anger.
"Listen," Chad suddenly said, stealing everyone's attention,
"if Serena doesn't want to go…then we shouldn't force her."
Serena sighed silently in relief.
Raye stared at Chad, not believing her ears. "ExCUSE me?"
Chad turned to look into her violet eyes. He grinned,
shrugging. "What, you don't think we'll get along together?"
Raye opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again
when no words came out for five seconds. She turned away, hiding her
reddened face.
Serena smiled secretly, licking her lips. "Well, Raye?"
Raye turned wide eyes to her friend. "Um, well…I-I…I guess
it'd be okay. But, are you SURE you don't want to come along?" She
asked, getting hopeful again.
"She's sure," Chad cut in, grinning and leaning toward Raye.
Serena smiled. "That's decided, then?" Raye and Chad…?
Possible.
"Wait!" Raye suddenly exclaimed, realizing something. "We came
here in Darien's car! How will Darien go to the park, Serena go back
home, and…me and--Chad go to the amusement park?"
Darien thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "That's
easy. I'll get you guys to the Amusement park first, since that's not
really far away, and you guys can order a taxi or something on the way
home. And I'll drive Serena back home after that, and then I'll drive
off myself to the park."
"You know what, you don't have to drive us--we can just take
a cab," Chad offered.
"Um, yeah--if you need to like, get to the park really fast,"
Raye said quietly.
Darien grinned. "Oookay…I'll, uh--fine. You guys can go get
a cab and ride off to the amusement park, and I'll take Serena home."
Both Serena and Raye swallowed uncomfortably.
I'll be alone in the car with Darien…
I'll be alone in a car with Chad…well, there's still the
driver…but…
Serena sighed. I guess I have to be prepared for whatever
other insults Darien has in store for me on our drive.
"Okay, then. Let's go," Chad said, smiling, as he got up
and headed for the door, with the other three following him.
The silence in the car was agonizing. Serena kept shifting
in her seat, keeping her eyes out the window. She didn't talk, he
didn't talk…that was fine.
"We're here," Darien said, breaking the silence and startling
Serena.
She swallowed, and realized they were getting nearer to the
garage door as Darien pulled up the driveway. She unbuckled her
seatbelt, grabbed her bag, and placed her hand on the handle, and
pushed.
The door didn't budge.
"Uh," Serena said, a little sheepishly as she glanced at
Darien. "The door's locked."
"What? Oh…I forgot to unlock," Darien replied, a lopsided
grin on his lips as he pulled a button by his door.
"Thanks," Serena said, getting out of the car and slamming the
door shut again. Then, she realized that Darien was also getting out.
She looked at him, a little confusedly. "Um--aren't you going to meet
Andrew at the park?"
"Nah. I'm tired," Darien replied, walking and stretching at
the same time with his arms.
Serena looked away, but not before she caught the way his
muscles showed through the shirt when he pulled his arms like that.
"So, what--you're going to make him wait?"
"Want to know something?" Darien said, his voice suddenly
getting mysterious.
Serena followed him inside as he opened the door, and turned
on the lights in the house. She looked at him, puzzled. "Sure. What?"
"I don't have a plan to meet Andrew in the park tonight,"
Darien told her, his eyes dancing.
Serena raised an eyebrow. "You lied? Why would you do that?"
"I didn't want to go anywhere after pizza, and I know that
I would never hear the end of it if I didn't come up with a excuse for
Raye as to why I couldn't go," Darien answered easily, sitting down on
the sofa and clicking on the television.
"You make it sound like Raye's your mother or something,"
Serena commented, sitting on the sofa's armrest, a good distance from
Darien.
Darien smirked, flipping through a channel. "She acts like
one sometimes."
Serena smiled. "By the way--do you have any idea what's going
on between Raye and Chad?"
"I don't know…I never really cared. When Chad first moved in,
Raye despised him. But now--she changed her attitude, I guess," he
answered, eyes focused on the TV screen.
Serena nodded. "Well," she stood up. "I'll be finishing up the
stuff in my room."
"Hey Serena?" Darien called out.
Serena turned around. "What?"
"Do you like it here?"
Serena was stunned. What kind of question was that? "Wha-what
do you mean?"
"I mean," Darien turned his head, his midnight blue eyes
locked with hers, "do you think you'll be able to like living here?"
Serena searched his eyes, and realized that he actually was
being serious. "I-I…I don't know. Probably."
"Okay," he answered. Then cleared his throat, and turned his
head back to face the TV again. "Okay." He said it again, a little more
loudly.
Serena turned back around again, walking up the stairs.
"And Serena?"
Serena stopped. Her heart took a hard pound against her chest.
"What?" she replied. Was he going to ask another question like that
again?
"Can you get me a can of beer?"
Serena rolled her eyes, annoyance shooting through her, and
continued up the stairs. "Get it yourself, you lazybug, I'm not a maid!"
Serena heard laughter. She stuck her head out her bedroom
door, and looked down the short but wide hallway. "Raye?"
Raye raised her head, and beamed a huge smile at Serena.
"Hey!"
Serena came out of her room, and stood with her hands on her
hips. She raised an eyebrow. "I'm guessing you had fun at the Amusement
park?"
Raye nodded, giggling again. "Yep. Chad was sooo hilarious!
I couldn't stop laughing on the rides, even when we were riding up and
down on the roller coasters!"
"I'm glad you had fun…" Serena said, smiling back.
"And you know what?" Another giggle and a blush.
"What?"
"He asked me out to movies tomorrow night!" Raye exclaimed,
together with another giggle.
Serena gasped. "You're serious?"
Raye nodded.
"That's great!"
"Hee…" Raye yawned, and shot a shy look toward the bedroom
door beside Serena's door…Chad's room.
"Where's Chad?" Serena asked.
"He's downstairs, talking and laughing with Darien, of course,"
Raye answered, taking steps into her bedroom, which was the first room
by the stairs. "Goodnight, Sere."
"Uh…goodnight," Serena answered. Sere? She went back into her
room, closing the door behind her. Did they become good friends already
that Raye had started giving her a nickname? And what a coincidence it
was…it was the same nickname Mina had for her.
With that thought on mind, Serena rushed toward her new desk.
She remembered she had put it somewhere… She pushed aside other papers,
and saw a little white paper with a flower drawn on it. Serena smiled,
took the paper, and opened it. On it contained Mina's address in London.
Serena grabbed a pen from the pencil holder she had placed on
the desk and looked around for a white piece of paper. Uh-oh. She had
an alarming thought. I didn't…oh no…I forgot…
Sighing, Serena put down her pen with a thunk, and walked out
the door to Raye's room. "Raye?" She knocked on the door.
No answer.
Serena knocked again. Again no answer. She leaned back, and
frowned. She walked back to her room, but then heard a shower running
sound from inside the bathroom between her and Chad's room. She must
be taking a shower. Serena bit her lip, and then walked downstairs
into the living room.
"Hey Serena!" Chad was all smiles.
"Hey Chad." Serena smiled back, knowing the reason that he
was grinning so hard.
"Um…do one of you have a blank sheet of white, lined paper that
could be used for letter writing? The three-holes kind is the best."
Serena's eyes darted between Darien and Chad. "I ran out of them."
"Gee, Serena, does the paper have to be college rule, too? Or
do you need the wide kind?" Darien replied sarcastically.
"Do you?" Serena asked, ignoring his comment.
"I think I have one somewhere around in my drawer…" Chad said,
about to go upstairs.
"Don't bother…I can get it, so Chad doesn't have to crawl all
the way upstairs to get a paper for you," Darien said, walking in to
his room behind the stairs.
Serena stared after him, not saying anything.
When he came out, he gave the paper to Serena, and led Chad
toward the sofa, talking again. Serena started her way upstairs. She
fingered the paper in her hands. She stopped on the top of the stairs,
and looked at it, borrowing the light the hallway provided. She counted
the paper, and found that instead of one, there were five white pieces
of paper. "No wonder they felt thick…" Serena smiled, an image of
Darien appearing in her mind, and she blushed.
She sat down on the chair in the bedroom, and began writing.
Dear Mina,
Hey! How are you? How are things in London? I miss you sooo much!
Right here, everything's fine, I guess. I've got to tell you
something, though. Remember that guy in the market who caught me trying
to open that box of milk? Well, guess what? He's one of my new
ROOMMATES! CAN you believe it? Ugh. He's made the fact that he hates
me pretty clear…with all those insults and sarcastic remarks. But I
think I've made the fact that I hate HIM pretty obvious too…at least,
I think so. You know me. I get tongue-tied sometimes when someone
makes a bad remark about me to my face.
Still, now that I've spend almost a day with him, I've got to
admit, Min…he is REALLY gorgeous. In fact, I think he's even more
handsome than Daniel…! Now, that's something, don't you think? If you
ever see him, you will faint. Wait…I'm stretching it here. I think he's
cute, yes, but remember this, Min…I DESPISE HIM.
But something happened just tonight, though, about two hours
ago. We just came back from a place called Papa Joe's, a pizza place,
and Raye and Chad went to the Amusement park nearby. They wanted all of
us to go, but I didn't feel like it. Turned out, Darien didn't, either.
So he drove me home since he took us to Joe's in his car, and we
exchanged a few words before I was walking up the stairs. And then…
Min, and then he asked me something like, "Do you think you'll be able
to like it here?" How was I supposed to answer that, Min? But I just
said probably. And that's true, anyway…if he wasn't one of the
roommates, I would've answered yes. He's annoying, but Raye and Chad
are pretty cool, though.
Speaking of them, I think they like each other. At first they
didn't show it, though, especially on the interview we had for the
room. When they were asking me questions and showing me around the
house, they kept shooting each other these annoyed looks. But tonight,
after Raye got back from the park with Chad, she was all giddy. And
Chad? He was smiling so hard I'm afraid his face will stay stretched
out after he stopped smiling.
But, it's cute, though. They look pretty good together.
Anyway, what about you? How are you doing? Is your mom all
right to you? Seriously, Min, you really should give her a chance.
It's not completely her fault that your Dad left…she needs you, and I
think you need her, too, Min, although you wouldn't admit it…even when
I was practically pounding on your head. Still, you went back to
London, and that means you at least have SOME love left for your mom,
right?
Well…that's it, I guess.
Min…I just want to say…I really, really miss you.
Write me back…you promised, remember?
Lots of hugs,
Serena.
Serena folded the letter and placed it under a marble display
cup. She would mail it tomorrow…when she got an envelope, that is.
She groaned.
"Hey, Raye--where's everyone?" Darien asked, coming out of his
room.
Raye looked at her cousin, and smiled secretly. "I don't know.
Chad's probably somewhere with his friends. Serena's out, getting some
envelopes and stamps."
"I didn't ask where Serena is," Darien replied carelessly,
walking in to the kitchen.
Raye sighed and got up from where she sat on the floor,
reading a romantic novel. "Well, geez, sorry I felt like I should tell
you since you asked where's EVERYONE, not just where's CHAD!"
Darien walked in the living room, holding an apple in his
hands. "What did you say Serena went, though? Getting envelopes and
stamps?"
"Yeah…" Raye folded the page where she left off, and put the
book on the coffee table, then turned around to face her cousin.
Darien glanced around the room, and before he knew the words
in his brain, he asked, "Don't we have envelopes and stamps that you
could borrow to her? Don't make her go the extra miles."
A smile was beginning to form on Raye's lips. "You actually
care, Darien?"
Darien stared at Raye for a moment. Then he shrugged, and
went back in his room, while saying, "It's pretty hot out today, I
wouldn't want ANYONE to go under the sun for just some envelopes and
stamps."
"Yeah…whatever, cousin," Raye mumbled to herself, a big grin
lit on her face.
Darien locked the door to his room, cursing himself. Now why
did he done that? Don't make her go the extra miles. He snorted as he
recalled his words, and fell back on his bed, turning on the boombox
sitting on the floor beside it.
He would've said it if it was Chad, too, not just Serena.
Raye knocked on his door. He turned down the volume on the
boombox.
"What?"
"I'm going out, okay?"
"Fine. Do you need my permission?"
"Shut up, bonehead."
Darien heard the door close. He turned up the volume again,
closing his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again later, he realized that he had
fallen asleep. The boombox was still on full blast, and he quickly
turned it off. He felt sweat on his forehead. The clock read 4:32. He
glanced around his room, and knew that he had been sweating because the
window and the door were both closed. He shook his head.
"Why did I fall asleep?" He unlocked his door, and there was
no one in the living room. He stood in the middle of the living room,
and looked toward the rooms upstairs. All three bedroom doors were
closed, but the bathroom was wide open.
That got him toward the bathroom beside the starting of the
stairs, the bathroom that he always used. The others always used either
the bathroom upstairs, or the bathroom inside the small so-called
family room.
The bathroom door was half-closed, the little open space
allowing him to see the wall the towels were all hanging on. He began
unbuttoning his white dress shirt with his right hand as his left hand
went to open the door all the way.
He heard a shriek even before he had the door wide open.
Darien stopped fumbling with his buttons, which had unbuttoned down to
his abdomen, with only two more left.
His eyes widened when they registered that there was another
person in the bathroom.
Serena was standing there, one hand frozen in midair holding a
hairbrush, the other pressed down on the sink. He saw that she only had
on a long white shirt that barely reached down her hips to her thighs.
Her hair was wet, and her blue eyes were huge as they looked into his
shocked dark blue ones.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, as if gathering her senses, Serena shouted, "What the
HELL do you THINK you're DOING?"
Darien took a step back, still shocked to his bones. "I didn't
know you were in here. The door wasn't even CLOSED!" he replied.
"Well, I didn't know you were going to march right in here!"
"Why didn't you close the damn door?"
"It was hot!" Serena screamed, her face twisted into a fury
expression. "So I opened the door, a LITTLE tiny bit ONLY! That didn't
give you the right to shove open the door!"
"The door was open! The door was OPEN! That USUALLY means one
thing--no one is inside!" Darien exclaimed, his annoyance building up.
"Ugh!" Serena growled, her eyes flashing angrily at him.
"Can you just GET OUT so I can finish up in here?"
"Certainly. Take your time, as long as you have the door
CLOSED this time so no one else would make the mistake again that
there's no one inside the bathroom!" Darien told her, scowling.
"Of course!" He barely had time to step back before Serena
reached back and slammed the door in his face.
Darien went straight into the living room, sat down, and
fumed.
Serena quickly pulled on her jeans, and then looked again to
make sure the door was locked. She was breathing so heavily that she
was afraid she might start to hyperventilate. Heck, she almost did just
then.
How dare he! How dare that jerk unexpectedly come in the
bathroom with her in it wearing only a shirt and underwear, and then
shout at her about the door not being closed!
Well, maybe she should have closed the door all the way, but
it wasn't like she thought anyone would come in exactly at that moment.
She learned a lesson about living here today.
As she continued to brush her tangled hair, her mind reflected
back to the moment that Darien had opened the bathroom door. His shirt
had been almost all the way unbuttoned, allowing Serena to see the
results of his obvious workouts. She blushed, at the same time thinking
how ironic the situation had been--him ready to, apparently, take a
shower, shirt open, and her, just finished taking a shower, and
half-way dressed.
Ironic, all right.
Serena rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Come again,
Raye?"
Raye just giggled once more.
"The move date with Chad went well, I presume?" Serena tried
again.
Raye nodded, grinning.
Serena smiled. "Wanna tell me the details?"
Raye blushed, and looked away.
"I guess that means not now. So, like--are you guys an item
now?"
Raye stopped smiling and stared at Serena. She seemed to be
thinking deeply. "I don't know. Does one date, two, actually, if you
want to count that trip to the amusement park, make you a couple?"
Serena smiled. "I don't know. Depends how deep the dates are…"
she grinned.
"Stop!" Raye giggled, and went into her room. She sat on the
bed, and smiled secretly.
Serena hovered by the door. "Are you going anywhere later
tonight?"
Raye looked up. "No, actually. Are you?"
"No," Serena answered with a smile. "You want to borrow a
tape from a video store and watch it together?"
Raye smiled. "Yeah. I would like that. I make good popcorns."
Serena laughed turned to go. Maybe I'll become good friends
with Raye.
**************
http://www6.brinkster.com/moonieround
By Henra
HenraM@tuxedomask.com
PG rated
Standard Disclaimer applies.
Enjoy reading, and be sure to drop me a comment! ^__^
Part two
**************
"I don't believe this, I don't believe this, I don't believe
this," Serena murmured to herself, pacing around her new room.
She sighed, and fell down on the bed. "That guy in the store…
is Darien. Darien…is that guy in the store," she said out loud, the
words clearly sinking into her.
She laughed bitterly, thinking how ironic the situation was.
Can I move out now? Would Raye mind giving me back the check?
Oh, Kansie, you are out of your mind. Why move out for a guy
like that? You can't find another place just as the semester's about
to start.
Just then, a knock was heard on her door.
"Come in," Serena said, standing up from her bed, eyes on
the door.
Raye stuck her head in, and smiled at Serena. "Hey--whoa!"
Her violet eyes widened when she saw Serena's room. She came in, and
surveyed the whole room. "Wow! I never knew the room could look like
this! You work REALLY fast, girl, let me tell you that. A few hours--
and THIS result? Damn, I need to learn how to decorate a room nice
and quick from you."
Serena laughed. "So! What's up?"
"Oh, me and Darien are thinking of going out for pizza
tonight--are you interested in going with us? And…" Raye fought to
keep cool, "Chad?"
Serena was flattered. She barely knew Raye, and she was
already asking her to go eat pizza together as if she knew her for a
long time already. "Sure," she answered with a smile. "Hey, Raye--is
it all right if I take a shower now, though? I'm all, heh, sweaty from
working around the room."
"Of course it's all right! We'll get going once Chad's home…
and that's usually around 7 during weekends. So you have about," Raye
looked at her watch, "thirty minutes."
"Good enough for me. I'll see you then," Serena said.
"Okay. Enjoy your shower!" Raye called out, walking toward the
door.
Serena laughed. I will. Oh, I definitely need a cool shower.
"Oh, good. You're home," Raye said flatly, eyeing Chad Duncan
as he walked in the front door.
"Good to see you again, too, Raye," Chad replied back, his
voice just as unenthusiastic.
Raye rolled her eyes. "We're going out for pizza--Serena, me
and Darien, and you're welcome to come along." Instantly, she cursed
herself. You said that Darien was going to tell him! Why did you open
your mouth?
Chad raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me if I want to go to
pizza with you guys?"
Raye shrugged, trying to be careless. "Darien wanted you
along."
"Oh." Chad then shrugged, too. "I don't know, if I have
nothing else to do. And wait--Serena's here already?"
"Yeah." Raye said with a smile, "she's here. She moved most
of her stuff in today, and she's going to be living here from tonight
on."
"Cool." Chad grinned. "She seems like a nice girl."
"Yeah, she is," Raye replied.
"Oh, Chad! You're home! Wanna go out for pizza with us?"
Darien appeared in the kitchen, grabbing a can of soda from the
refrigerator.
Chad glanced at Raye. "Raye already told me about it. I don't
know…maybe I'll tag along."
Darien straightened up, and shot a glance at his cousin. "Raye
already told you about it?"
Raye could already see her cousin's mind calculating what
just happened, his eyes asking a question Raye didn't even know the
answer to herself. 'Why did you ask him when you told ME to ask him?'
Maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal to anyone else, but to Darien's
eyes and mind, everything had to do with SOMETHING. Raye hoped Darien
wouldn't ask her anything.
But, thankfully, Darien didn't act on it. He just kept on
looking at Chad. "Maybe? Where else do you plan to go tonight?"
Involuntarily, Raye's attention was grabbed. She tried to
keep on looking at the book in her hands, but her ears were way into
what Chad was about to say.
"No where, really. I just--I don't know, I don't think I'm
really very welcomed," Chad said to Darien, watching Raye from the
corners of his eyes.
Hell, you are coming, Duncan, no matter what. I'm not about
to face Serena if Raye's not going to face you. But Darien just tried
casually to convince him, "Come on, what harm could it cause? We're
hungry, we're roommates, we're going out for pizza like normal friends."
He almost stumbled when he said friends, because he thought of Serena,
but he caught himself in time. Chad would surely pick out that stutter
if he made it.
Chad's eyes shifted to Raye. Raye, catching Chad looking at
her, immediately started staring at the page in the book as if it was
the most interesting thing in the whole world. Chad couldn't help but
smile. "Yeah, I guess I can go with you guys."
Darien grinned. "Cool." He shot one more look at Raye, then
at Chad, and then walked out of the kitchen, trying to figure out--for
the millionth time--what was it between Raye and Chad.
Raye went back to her book.
Chad hesitated for a moment, then started going to his room
upstairs.
Raye looked up as he walked slowly up the stairs. At that
moment, Chad also shot a look at Raye. Their gazes met, and then Raye
quickly looked away, feeling a faint blush creep up to her cheeks.
Chad continued to go upstairs.
Serena came downstairs wearing a long-sleeved tie-dyed shirt,
along with a pair of low-slung jeans.
Raye was already in the living room, hands on hips, looking
at her watch now and then. Serena smiled and called out, "Raye!"
Raye looked up, and smiled back. "Serena! God, I knew I could
count on you."
"Where's Chad and Darien?"
Raye rolled her eyes. "Chad's still in his room, and Darien's
still in the bathroom."
"Well, I'M back, so don't worry about me any longer."
Both Raye and Serena turned toward the direction of the voice,
and found Darien standing there, a smug smile on his face. "I'm not
late, am I?"
Serena fought not to notice how very attractive he looked.
The crisp navy-blue shirt just somehow made his eyes more smoldering.
Darien caught her looking at him, and gave her a smirk, which caused
Serena to look away immediately.
"Well, YOU are here, but where the hell is Chad?" Raye stomped
a foot.
"I'm here, I'm here," Chad called out, practically rolling
down the stairs because he tripped on his baggy pants on the top step.
Raye rolled her eyes. "All right, all right. Let's go."
"We'll take my car," Darien told them, walking ahead of the
others.
When they reached the Mitsubishi, Raye climbed in the backseat
immediately. Serena was about to climb in after her, but Chad beat her
to it. He flashed her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I don't like to use
seatbelts. And Raye makes whoever sit in the front seats wear them."
Serena saw Raye roll her eyes, but she also saw that her
friend then flashed a small smile at Chad. Now Serena was the only one
standing outside the jeep, staring at the seat beside Darien. She bit
her lip, hesitant.
Darien seemed to notice this. "What's wrong, Serena? Afraid
to sit beside me? Think I have the cooties or something?" He asked
casually, half-smiling.
Chad snickered, and Raye elbowed him, causing him to make a
straight face in about a second.
Serena narrowed her eyes at Darien. "Oh, very mature,
Caseley." She climbed in the seat next to Darien, closing the door
after her.
Darien went ahead and pulled out of the driveway.
"This place is so crowded," Serena commented as the four of
them made their way to a table.
Raye nodded as she looked around. "Papa Joe's always is during
weekends."
"What do you guys want?" Darien asked, sitting down and
leaning back against the leather seat.
"Pepperoni," Serena answered without thinking.
"Okay, then. I want a cheese," Darien replied, smirking at
Serena.
Serena stared at him in surprise. "I didn't ask you what
you wanted."
"Yeah, well--you wanted pepperoni, and so when you go up
there--" Darien pointed to the counter with a finger, "--and order
for the slices of pizza, order three slices of cheese for me."
Serena felt like exploding. "Excuse me? Why am I supposed to
go up there and order for you? And why the hell DO you think _I_
would go and order when I just said that I wanted pepperoni? Besides,
you were the one who asked me."
"So I asked you."
"Well, one USUALLY assumes when someone asks that, it means
that he or she is the one who's going to order."
"Well, one USUALLY assumes when one asks that, it's just
asking 'What does everyone want' and doesn't mean 'I'm going to
order for you guys.'"
Serena clenched her fists. She opened her mouth, but was
interrupted by Raye. "All right, you two! I'LL go there and order,
for god's sake, since I ALWAYS do!" Raye started toward the counter.
"Wait." Chad started after her, grabbing her wrist. "I'll
order this time,since like you said--you always do." He half-smiled at
her, and then walked to the counter, getting out his wallet.
Raye stood there, gawking after him. She turned back to their
table, and sat down slowly.
"Is Chad paying for everything?" Serena asked when Raye sat
down, "Because I brought mo--"
"It's always like that, don't worry, Serena," Raye replied,
smiling. "He pays for now, but when we go home, we then pay for what
we get."
Serena nodded.
"Are you rich or something? Because if you are--you CAN
pay for everything, you know," Darien said with an innocent smile.
"Darien!" Raye exclaimed, giving her cousin a glare.
"Although, I wonder--if you are really rich, why did you try
to open the box of milk in the store?"
Serena's eyes flashed. "That has nothing to do with me being
rich or not."
He shrugged, looking away. "Whatever."
"Chad!" Raye interrupted, relieved, before Serena could open
her mouth.
Chad looked at Raye, a smile half lit on his face. "Gee, don't
you sound happy to see me."
Raye blushed, not saying anything.
Chad sat down, also putting down a receipt on the table. "Our
number is 210, easy to remember, right? I ordered two slices of
pepperoni, three slices of cheese, and a whole sausage pizza, all
right?"
"210," Raye repeated. She looked at him, a sparkle lit in her
eyes. "You knew I wanted--sausage?"
Chad grinned easily. "I'd be dead if I don't know what kind of
pizza you like by now."
Raye nodded, and looked away, thinking how dumb her question
was. Of course he knew by now…she just never knew that since he never
ordered for them before. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Serena watched the exchange, and felt a small knowing feeling
creep up to her. She caught Darien's gaze, and from the way he was
looking at her, she could tell that he was thinking of something--
not the same--but similar.
She looked away. She glanced at him sideways and saw that he
had grinned and then turned his attention to somewhere in the other
side of the room.
Some minutes later, they heard a guy calling "Number 210!
Number 210 is ready!" The four glanced at each other, and Serena
started to get up. "I'll get them."
"But you don't--"
"Raye! Serena wants to get them, and so let her!" Darien
said, trying to sound reasonable as he watched Serena turn to go.
Raye glared at her cousin. Honestly, he could be so annoying
when he wanted to. She tried to call to Serena again, but when she
looked back, Serena had already marched up toward the 'pick-up' part
of the counter. At least Serena didn't hear that remark…Otherwise
she would be REALLY hating Darien.
Serena, unfortunately though, HAD heard it. She fought to keep
her face smiling when she received the pizzas from the worker. She
fought to keep her face cool when she reached back to the table. And
she fought not to bite Darien's head off right then and there when she
delivered the different kinds pizzas to their owners.
She finally sat down, picked up a slice of her delicious,
hot pepperoni pizza, and prepared to start eating.
"Anyone want drinks?" Darien suddenly asked, looking at
Serena.
Serena narrowed her eyes. She stayed silent. If he thinks
I'm going to answer that one like I did with the pizza, he's got
another thing coming.
"I said, anyone want any drinks?" Darien asked again.
Serena looked at Raye and Chad. They somehow didn't look
like they heard anything; both were completely focused on destroying
their pizza. She cocked an eyebrow, and wondered if there was anything
going on between Raye and Chad.
"Serena? Want any drinks?" Darien grinned at her, picking a
bite at his pizza.
Serena mouthed the words 'Go to hell.'
"Only if you come with me," Darien replied, still smiling.
It was at that moment Raye and Chad decided to pay attention.
"Who come with who to where?" They asked in unison. They looked at each
other, reddened, and then looked away, Chad focused on Darien, Raye
focused on Serena.
Both Serena and Darien raised their eyebrows at the exchange.
"Oh, we were talking about hell and stuff," Serena answered, purposely
making her voice cheerful.
"Hell?" Raye repeated.
"Yeah--it's, you know, the UNDERWORLD," Darien said in a
serious tone, wiping his mouth with a napkin roughly.
Raye rolled her eyes. "I didn't ask you." She went back to
nibbling at her pizza.
Serena gave Darien an evil eye. Darien raised an eyebrow but
said nothing.
Serena finished with her first piece of pizza, and then made
a grab for the second one on the plate. Somehow, the pizza tonight just
tasted extra delicious. Then, she caught a glimpse of long blonde hair.
Serena's eyes widened. She put down her slice, and stared in the
direction which she just saw that flash. Mina?
Then, when her eyes saw that it was just another girl with
long blonde hair, a shade a little bit darker than Mina's, she slumped
down in her seat. Stupid, stupid. Mina went away, remember? She left
yesterday night. God…I miss her already.
She looked at her half-bitten second slice of pizza. She just
lost her appetite. "Um--" Serena began, catching everyone around the
table's attention, "I'm going to--go outside for a minute, okay?" She
half-smiled, and stood up to go.
"Wait! Wha-what about your pizza?" Raye asked. "I mean--it's
going to get cold, and when it's not cold--it's not as delicious."
Serena smiled. "I'm not really that hungry anymore." She
walked to the front door. Chad, Raye, and Darien all stared after her.
Raye looked expectedly at Darien. "Well?"
"Well what?" Darien stared back at Raye, his eyes narrowed.
"Well, what did you say to her?"
Darien gaped at his cousin in disbelief. "Excuse me? What _I_
did to her?"
Raye didn't answer. She crossed her arms and leaned back in
her seat, looking crossly at her cousin.
"Raye, you were here the whole time, okay? I didn't do anything
to her." Darien took a bite on his pizza. "She fought back, anyway,"
he mumbled, looking away.
Raye threw another concerned look out the door of Papa Joe's,
and then hesitantly finished the last bite of the slice of pizza she
was holding in her hand.
Darien shifted in his seat, making a little squeaking noise
with the leather chair. His eyes darted to the half-bitten pizza that
was on Serena's plate, and unconsciously, he looked out the direction
where Serena had gone. He frowned.
It couldn't have been something that he did that got to Serena.
He was sure of that.
Serena came in a few minutes later, looking tired. She shakily
sat down beside Raye, and looked for a drink. Then she realized that no
one had ordered a drink. Shooting a glance at Darien, she warily began,
"I'm going to go buy a drink…"
Raye and Chad nodded. Serena looked at Darien, expecting him
to come up with another sorry excuse for an insult. Instead, he didn't
say anything. Just held her gaze evenly with his piercing blue eyes.
Serena stood up, breaking eye contact, and walked to the counter,
pulling out her wallet from her shoulder bag.
Darien cocked an eyebrow as he saw Serena talking with the
guy behind the counter, and then giving him some money, and came back
holding a glass of soda in her hand. "What did you buy?"
Serena sat down, eyeing him carefully, and not answering for
a moment as if considering the question was tricky. Then she answered
in a cool voice, "Cola."
"Cool. I like cola," Darien replied, half of a smile appearing
on his face.
Serena's eyes narrowed. "That's nice." She watched him as he
stretched his palms out, then snatched up the remaining slice of pizza
on his plate, and casually ate it, while the whole time never moving
his eyes away from hers. She was half-expecting him to tell her to go
and buy a cola for him.
"Well," Raye said cheerfully, dabbing her mouth with a napkin,
"I'm done. Do you guys want to go straight home or go somewhere else to
have fun?"
Chad grinned. "Go somewhere else to have fun, of course, my
lady."
Raye glanced at him, then looked at Serena and Darien. "What
do you think, guys?"
Serena looked back at Raye, and smiled. "I don't know. I'm
sort of tired…"
"Oh, come on, Serena! Already tired?! You should have fun
today! It's the beginning of the days that you're going to be living
with us!" Chad exclaimed, his grin getting wider.
"Yeah, Serena. Tired so soon?" Darien put the last bite of
pizza into his mouth, and picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth. "You
guys could go to that newly opened club."
"What? In THIS?" Raye exclaimed in disbelief, gesturing at her
blue baby tee and white slim-fitting jeans, with the dirty sneakers. "I
don't think so. And what do you mean, Darien--YOU guys?"
"I don't plan to go, actually. I, uh--promised Andrew I would
meet him at the park tonight," Darien answered casually.
"Oh." Raye's gaze dropped, then she looked between Chad and
Serena. "Well, then…if you guys don't mind, I think we should all just
go to that amusement park on Main street," Raye, brightening suddenly.
"Amusement park? At this hour?" Serena asked, blinking.
"You know--that's not a bad idea," Chad commented, a glint to
his eyes.
Serena thought about it. There was still some stuff that she
had to finish in her new room…but, of course, that could be done later.
But--she looked at Chad, then at Raye. There was something between
those two, and somehow, she didn't feel like tagging along. "Well,
I--it's probably a good idea for you guys to go somewhere…but I--really,
Raye--I'm exhausted from moving all those stuff. I just want to go home
and take some rest. I'll take a rain check, if it's okay…?" Serena
smiled apologetically at her new friend.
Raye panicked. If Serena weren't going…and Darien weren't
going…then she and Chad would be going alone…and somehow, the idea of
going to the amusement park didn't seem so fun and carefree anymore. She
turned a pleading gaze to Serena. "Serena…please?" she began, "I mean,
you're my new friend--and I want us to really have some fun together…
consider this like, like some sort of celebration of you moving in
with us."
Darien snorted. "Yeah, right, celebration."
Raye glared at him, and Serena flushed in anger.
"Listen," Chad suddenly said, stealing everyone's attention,
"if Serena doesn't want to go…then we shouldn't force her."
Serena sighed silently in relief.
Raye stared at Chad, not believing her ears. "ExCUSE me?"
Chad turned to look into her violet eyes. He grinned,
shrugging. "What, you don't think we'll get along together?"
Raye opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again
when no words came out for five seconds. She turned away, hiding her
reddened face.
Serena smiled secretly, licking her lips. "Well, Raye?"
Raye turned wide eyes to her friend. "Um, well…I-I…I guess
it'd be okay. But, are you SURE you don't want to come along?" She
asked, getting hopeful again.
"She's sure," Chad cut in, grinning and leaning toward Raye.
Serena smiled. "That's decided, then?" Raye and Chad…?
Possible.
"Wait!" Raye suddenly exclaimed, realizing something. "We came
here in Darien's car! How will Darien go to the park, Serena go back
home, and…me and--Chad go to the amusement park?"
Darien thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "That's
easy. I'll get you guys to the Amusement park first, since that's not
really far away, and you guys can order a taxi or something on the way
home. And I'll drive Serena back home after that, and then I'll drive
off myself to the park."
"You know what, you don't have to drive us--we can just take
a cab," Chad offered.
"Um, yeah--if you need to like, get to the park really fast,"
Raye said quietly.
Darien grinned. "Oookay…I'll, uh--fine. You guys can go get
a cab and ride off to the amusement park, and I'll take Serena home."
Both Serena and Raye swallowed uncomfortably.
I'll be alone in the car with Darien…
I'll be alone in a car with Chad…well, there's still the
driver…but…
Serena sighed. I guess I have to be prepared for whatever
other insults Darien has in store for me on our drive.
"Okay, then. Let's go," Chad said, smiling, as he got up
and headed for the door, with the other three following him.
The silence in the car was agonizing. Serena kept shifting
in her seat, keeping her eyes out the window. She didn't talk, he
didn't talk…that was fine.
"We're here," Darien said, breaking the silence and startling
Serena.
She swallowed, and realized they were getting nearer to the
garage door as Darien pulled up the driveway. She unbuckled her
seatbelt, grabbed her bag, and placed her hand on the handle, and
pushed.
The door didn't budge.
"Uh," Serena said, a little sheepishly as she glanced at
Darien. "The door's locked."
"What? Oh…I forgot to unlock," Darien replied, a lopsided
grin on his lips as he pulled a button by his door.
"Thanks," Serena said, getting out of the car and slamming the
door shut again. Then, she realized that Darien was also getting out.
She looked at him, a little confusedly. "Um--aren't you going to meet
Andrew at the park?"
"Nah. I'm tired," Darien replied, walking and stretching at
the same time with his arms.
Serena looked away, but not before she caught the way his
muscles showed through the shirt when he pulled his arms like that.
"So, what--you're going to make him wait?"
"Want to know something?" Darien said, his voice suddenly
getting mysterious.
Serena followed him inside as he opened the door, and turned
on the lights in the house. She looked at him, puzzled. "Sure. What?"
"I don't have a plan to meet Andrew in the park tonight,"
Darien told her, his eyes dancing.
Serena raised an eyebrow. "You lied? Why would you do that?"
"I didn't want to go anywhere after pizza, and I know that
I would never hear the end of it if I didn't come up with a excuse for
Raye as to why I couldn't go," Darien answered easily, sitting down on
the sofa and clicking on the television.
"You make it sound like Raye's your mother or something,"
Serena commented, sitting on the sofa's armrest, a good distance from
Darien.
Darien smirked, flipping through a channel. "She acts like
one sometimes."
Serena smiled. "By the way--do you have any idea what's going
on between Raye and Chad?"
"I don't know…I never really cared. When Chad first moved in,
Raye despised him. But now--she changed her attitude, I guess," he
answered, eyes focused on the TV screen.
Serena nodded. "Well," she stood up. "I'll be finishing up the
stuff in my room."
"Hey Serena?" Darien called out.
Serena turned around. "What?"
"Do you like it here?"
Serena was stunned. What kind of question was that? "Wha-what
do you mean?"
"I mean," Darien turned his head, his midnight blue eyes
locked with hers, "do you think you'll be able to like living here?"
Serena searched his eyes, and realized that he actually was
being serious. "I-I…I don't know. Probably."
"Okay," he answered. Then cleared his throat, and turned his
head back to face the TV again. "Okay." He said it again, a little more
loudly.
Serena turned back around again, walking up the stairs.
"And Serena?"
Serena stopped. Her heart took a hard pound against her chest.
"What?" she replied. Was he going to ask another question like that
again?
"Can you get me a can of beer?"
Serena rolled her eyes, annoyance shooting through her, and
continued up the stairs. "Get it yourself, you lazybug, I'm not a maid!"
Serena heard laughter. She stuck her head out her bedroom
door, and looked down the short but wide hallway. "Raye?"
Raye raised her head, and beamed a huge smile at Serena.
"Hey!"
Serena came out of her room, and stood with her hands on her
hips. She raised an eyebrow. "I'm guessing you had fun at the Amusement
park?"
Raye nodded, giggling again. "Yep. Chad was sooo hilarious!
I couldn't stop laughing on the rides, even when we were riding up and
down on the roller coasters!"
"I'm glad you had fun…" Serena said, smiling back.
"And you know what?" Another giggle and a blush.
"What?"
"He asked me out to movies tomorrow night!" Raye exclaimed,
together with another giggle.
Serena gasped. "You're serious?"
Raye nodded.
"That's great!"
"Hee…" Raye yawned, and shot a shy look toward the bedroom
door beside Serena's door…Chad's room.
"Where's Chad?" Serena asked.
"He's downstairs, talking and laughing with Darien, of course,"
Raye answered, taking steps into her bedroom, which was the first room
by the stairs. "Goodnight, Sere."
"Uh…goodnight," Serena answered. Sere? She went back into her
room, closing the door behind her. Did they become good friends already
that Raye had started giving her a nickname? And what a coincidence it
was…it was the same nickname Mina had for her.
With that thought on mind, Serena rushed toward her new desk.
She remembered she had put it somewhere… She pushed aside other papers,
and saw a little white paper with a flower drawn on it. Serena smiled,
took the paper, and opened it. On it contained Mina's address in London.
Serena grabbed a pen from the pencil holder she had placed on
the desk and looked around for a white piece of paper. Uh-oh. She had
an alarming thought. I didn't…oh no…I forgot…
Sighing, Serena put down her pen with a thunk, and walked out
the door to Raye's room. "Raye?" She knocked on the door.
No answer.
Serena knocked again. Again no answer. She leaned back, and
frowned. She walked back to her room, but then heard a shower running
sound from inside the bathroom between her and Chad's room. She must
be taking a shower. Serena bit her lip, and then walked downstairs
into the living room.
"Hey Serena!" Chad was all smiles.
"Hey Chad." Serena smiled back, knowing the reason that he
was grinning so hard.
"Um…do one of you have a blank sheet of white, lined paper that
could be used for letter writing? The three-holes kind is the best."
Serena's eyes darted between Darien and Chad. "I ran out of them."
"Gee, Serena, does the paper have to be college rule, too? Or
do you need the wide kind?" Darien replied sarcastically.
"Do you?" Serena asked, ignoring his comment.
"I think I have one somewhere around in my drawer…" Chad said,
about to go upstairs.
"Don't bother…I can get it, so Chad doesn't have to crawl all
the way upstairs to get a paper for you," Darien said, walking in to
his room behind the stairs.
Serena stared after him, not saying anything.
When he came out, he gave the paper to Serena, and led Chad
toward the sofa, talking again. Serena started her way upstairs. She
fingered the paper in her hands. She stopped on the top of the stairs,
and looked at it, borrowing the light the hallway provided. She counted
the paper, and found that instead of one, there were five white pieces
of paper. "No wonder they felt thick…" Serena smiled, an image of
Darien appearing in her mind, and she blushed.
She sat down on the chair in the bedroom, and began writing.
Dear Mina,
Hey! How are you? How are things in London? I miss you sooo much!
Right here, everything's fine, I guess. I've got to tell you
something, though. Remember that guy in the market who caught me trying
to open that box of milk? Well, guess what? He's one of my new
ROOMMATES! CAN you believe it? Ugh. He's made the fact that he hates
me pretty clear…with all those insults and sarcastic remarks. But I
think I've made the fact that I hate HIM pretty obvious too…at least,
I think so. You know me. I get tongue-tied sometimes when someone
makes a bad remark about me to my face.
Still, now that I've spend almost a day with him, I've got to
admit, Min…he is REALLY gorgeous. In fact, I think he's even more
handsome than Daniel…! Now, that's something, don't you think? If you
ever see him, you will faint. Wait…I'm stretching it here. I think he's
cute, yes, but remember this, Min…I DESPISE HIM.
But something happened just tonight, though, about two hours
ago. We just came back from a place called Papa Joe's, a pizza place,
and Raye and Chad went to the Amusement park nearby. They wanted all of
us to go, but I didn't feel like it. Turned out, Darien didn't, either.
So he drove me home since he took us to Joe's in his car, and we
exchanged a few words before I was walking up the stairs. And then…
Min, and then he asked me something like, "Do you think you'll be able
to like it here?" How was I supposed to answer that, Min? But I just
said probably. And that's true, anyway…if he wasn't one of the
roommates, I would've answered yes. He's annoying, but Raye and Chad
are pretty cool, though.
Speaking of them, I think they like each other. At first they
didn't show it, though, especially on the interview we had for the
room. When they were asking me questions and showing me around the
house, they kept shooting each other these annoyed looks. But tonight,
after Raye got back from the park with Chad, she was all giddy. And
Chad? He was smiling so hard I'm afraid his face will stay stretched
out after he stopped smiling.
But, it's cute, though. They look pretty good together.
Anyway, what about you? How are you doing? Is your mom all
right to you? Seriously, Min, you really should give her a chance.
It's not completely her fault that your Dad left…she needs you, and I
think you need her, too, Min, although you wouldn't admit it…even when
I was practically pounding on your head. Still, you went back to
London, and that means you at least have SOME love left for your mom,
right?
Well…that's it, I guess.
Min…I just want to say…I really, really miss you.
Write me back…you promised, remember?
Lots of hugs,
Serena.
Serena folded the letter and placed it under a marble display
cup. She would mail it tomorrow…when she got an envelope, that is.
She groaned.
"Hey, Raye--where's everyone?" Darien asked, coming out of his
room.
Raye looked at her cousin, and smiled secretly. "I don't know.
Chad's probably somewhere with his friends. Serena's out, getting some
envelopes and stamps."
"I didn't ask where Serena is," Darien replied carelessly,
walking in to the kitchen.
Raye sighed and got up from where she sat on the floor,
reading a romantic novel. "Well, geez, sorry I felt like I should tell
you since you asked where's EVERYONE, not just where's CHAD!"
Darien walked in the living room, holding an apple in his
hands. "What did you say Serena went, though? Getting envelopes and
stamps?"
"Yeah…" Raye folded the page where she left off, and put the
book on the coffee table, then turned around to face her cousin.
Darien glanced around the room, and before he knew the words
in his brain, he asked, "Don't we have envelopes and stamps that you
could borrow to her? Don't make her go the extra miles."
A smile was beginning to form on Raye's lips. "You actually
care, Darien?"
Darien stared at Raye for a moment. Then he shrugged, and
went back in his room, while saying, "It's pretty hot out today, I
wouldn't want ANYONE to go under the sun for just some envelopes and
stamps."
"Yeah…whatever, cousin," Raye mumbled to herself, a big grin
lit on her face.
Darien locked the door to his room, cursing himself. Now why
did he done that? Don't make her go the extra miles. He snorted as he
recalled his words, and fell back on his bed, turning on the boombox
sitting on the floor beside it.
He would've said it if it was Chad, too, not just Serena.
Raye knocked on his door. He turned down the volume on the
boombox.
"What?"
"I'm going out, okay?"
"Fine. Do you need my permission?"
"Shut up, bonehead."
Darien heard the door close. He turned up the volume again,
closing his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again later, he realized that he had
fallen asleep. The boombox was still on full blast, and he quickly
turned it off. He felt sweat on his forehead. The clock read 4:32. He
glanced around his room, and knew that he had been sweating because the
window and the door were both closed. He shook his head.
"Why did I fall asleep?" He unlocked his door, and there was
no one in the living room. He stood in the middle of the living room,
and looked toward the rooms upstairs. All three bedroom doors were
closed, but the bathroom was wide open.
That got him toward the bathroom beside the starting of the
stairs, the bathroom that he always used. The others always used either
the bathroom upstairs, or the bathroom inside the small so-called
family room.
The bathroom door was half-closed, the little open space
allowing him to see the wall the towels were all hanging on. He began
unbuttoning his white dress shirt with his right hand as his left hand
went to open the door all the way.
He heard a shriek even before he had the door wide open.
Darien stopped fumbling with his buttons, which had unbuttoned down to
his abdomen, with only two more left.
His eyes widened when they registered that there was another
person in the bathroom.
Serena was standing there, one hand frozen in midair holding a
hairbrush, the other pressed down on the sink. He saw that she only had
on a long white shirt that barely reached down her hips to her thighs.
Her hair was wet, and her blue eyes were huge as they looked into his
shocked dark blue ones.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, as if gathering her senses, Serena shouted, "What the
HELL do you THINK you're DOING?"
Darien took a step back, still shocked to his bones. "I didn't
know you were in here. The door wasn't even CLOSED!" he replied.
"Well, I didn't know you were going to march right in here!"
"Why didn't you close the damn door?"
"It was hot!" Serena screamed, her face twisted into a fury
expression. "So I opened the door, a LITTLE tiny bit ONLY! That didn't
give you the right to shove open the door!"
"The door was open! The door was OPEN! That USUALLY means one
thing--no one is inside!" Darien exclaimed, his annoyance building up.
"Ugh!" Serena growled, her eyes flashing angrily at him.
"Can you just GET OUT so I can finish up in here?"
"Certainly. Take your time, as long as you have the door
CLOSED this time so no one else would make the mistake again that
there's no one inside the bathroom!" Darien told her, scowling.
"Of course!" He barely had time to step back before Serena
reached back and slammed the door in his face.
Darien went straight into the living room, sat down, and
fumed.
Serena quickly pulled on her jeans, and then looked again to
make sure the door was locked. She was breathing so heavily that she
was afraid she might start to hyperventilate. Heck, she almost did just
then.
How dare he! How dare that jerk unexpectedly come in the
bathroom with her in it wearing only a shirt and underwear, and then
shout at her about the door not being closed!
Well, maybe she should have closed the door all the way, but
it wasn't like she thought anyone would come in exactly at that moment.
She learned a lesson about living here today.
As she continued to brush her tangled hair, her mind reflected
back to the moment that Darien had opened the bathroom door. His shirt
had been almost all the way unbuttoned, allowing Serena to see the
results of his obvious workouts. She blushed, at the same time thinking
how ironic the situation had been--him ready to, apparently, take a
shower, shirt open, and her, just finished taking a shower, and
half-way dressed.
Ironic, all right.
Serena rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Come again,
Raye?"
Raye just giggled once more.
"The move date with Chad went well, I presume?" Serena tried
again.
Raye nodded, grinning.
Serena smiled. "Wanna tell me the details?"
Raye blushed, and looked away.
"I guess that means not now. So, like--are you guys an item
now?"
Raye stopped smiling and stared at Serena. She seemed to be
thinking deeply. "I don't know. Does one date, two, actually, if you
want to count that trip to the amusement park, make you a couple?"
Serena smiled. "I don't know. Depends how deep the dates are…"
she grinned.
"Stop!" Raye giggled, and went into her room. She sat on the
bed, and smiled secretly.
Serena hovered by the door. "Are you going anywhere later
tonight?"
Raye looked up. "No, actually. Are you?"
"No," Serena answered with a smile. "You want to borrow a
tape from a video store and watch it together?"
Raye smiled. "Yeah. I would like that. I make good popcorns."
Serena laughed turned to go. Maybe I'll become good friends
with Raye.
**************
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