Hiya all, and yay! I finally finished this chapter. It took long
because first I started writing and then realized I'd introduced the
scouts and I decided not to, so I erased the plans and started over.
Then realized that I'd already talked about them in the first paragraph
of the story, so...I went back and readded them. The result contains a
little bit of both drafts and some new stuff. Anyways,
I hope you like it, thank you sooooo much for reviewing it, and
remember to smile!
I can be reached at eileenblzr@yahoo.com Bye now!
Symbiosis Chapter 5
"Do you have any idea what sort of night I've had? I had this boy
trying to strangle his mother in the kitchen, the police and ambulance
round, tranquilizer darts, drives to the hosptial...and it was hardly
my fault." -Bridget Jones, Edge of Reason
Darien lay in bed, listening as the pendulum of his clock swung back
and forth in a easy rhythm. It was morning, and the curtains were open
just enough to let a small sliver of light seep in. He was on his
stomach, hands folded over the pillow, so that he could see Serena as
she lay tangled in her blankets.
She looked so innocent, with her arms and legs stretched out like an
infant, blonde mane spread like a fan beneath her. It almost hard to
believe that she would soon rise, smile, and go out of her way to
humiliate him. Serena hadn't told Darien what exactly the plans for the
day were but he could imagine. He'd probably return home a broken shell
of a man with glassy eyes and a slight limp, only able to mummble the
words 'Of course that dress doesn't make you look fat' and 'but Serena,
you just ate'.
That's right, he told himself as he arose and walked into the bathroom.
As angelic as she may appear, there was revenge on her mind. Revenge in
an
evil-villian-whose-just-gotten-the-chance-to-torture-superhero-with-a-
toothpick kind of way. Perhaps he would call her Iago. Beware Darien,
beware the sinister thoughts that lurk beneath a veil of loveliness and
chastity!
Oh boy. Darien turned on the water and dipped his head in. The wait was
definitely getting to him.
***************************
Serena was gone when he got out of the shower. Darien poked his head
into the living room and found her perched on the edge of a chair, feet
dangling and newspaper in hand.
"I thought you were asleep." He questioned.
She shrugged, not looking up at him. "I had to get up and make a few
calls."
"Really? Needed to ask suggestions on how to torment me?"
"Oh, don't worry about that Darien. I have plently of my own ideas."
Her blue eyes twinkled merrily as she continued reading. "By the end of
the day, you will have cried, crawled, and will be begging me to help."
"Riiiight."
****************************
Serena found herself stifling a giggle as Darien emerged from the back
of an old gray truck, lifting a box one eighth his size and twice his
weight. Maybe she should have told him that it contained pieces of
granite as soon as he volunteered to carry it, all tough and
masculine-like...
But where was the fun in that?
Darien staggered, grunted, and, in an abnormally high voice, said
"Where should I put it?" Serena turned and looked at the old man at her
side. His clothing was worn and slightly ragged but his smile was as
bright as day.
"By the stage." Answered the man, exchanging a glance with Serena. He
lowered his head and whispered. "Is that any way to treat your new
boyfriend?"
She blushed and shook her head. "He's not my boyfriend. Just a jerk who
needs to be taught a lesson."
"And you want our help?"
"MmmHmm. If it's not too much trouble..."
The old man chuckled. "You kids today. Fine, fine. We'll lend a
hand...but the show will go on!"
"Naturally." Just then another slightly rumpled man called and off the
old guy went. Serena grinned broadly as a hunched over Darien waddled
over to her.
He stared hard at her with narrowed eyes. "Tell me again why I'm here,
behind Seven Eleven, moving heavy boxes on and off a two foot high
stage made of cardboard stacked upon cardboard while you and a bunch of
old shabby guys gawk and laugh?"
"I'm trying to save our marriage, Darien. You broke the trust and I am
just making the best endeavo-"
"Serena..." he growled. She lit up like a firecracker.
"Revenge is sweeter than chocolate."
"Yeah, well you could give Amontillado a run for his money."
Serena came up to him and placed a hand over his shoulder. "Aw, po'
baby. Does Dari need a wittle napy-poo?" She dissolved into giggles
and clung to him for support. When the fit passed, she looked up, her
eyes momentarily serious. "Their not old shabby guys. They're homeless.
And the only way to make money by working is to put on plays. That
stage you were making fun of was handmade and the result of 50 men
saving and working together for a common goal. So cheer up, Darien.
When today ends, we're going back to your penthouse. They're going to
the local shelter. Oh, and you see that man sitting in the corner?
John? It's his birthday. No one even said anything to him." She pulled
away and left him standing there, speechless.
Well, didn't he feel like a heel.
He scanned the set before seeing a elderly loose-toothed man with a few
wisps of hair. Darien watched him and suddenly he knew that he was the
John Serena had mentioned. It was just this feeling that passed through
him, setting his senses alive, making them acute to any and all
intuitions he may feel.
That and the fact that the old man was sitting in the corner, carrying
a sign that said: I'm John, ask for Help/Information. Daren gulped.
He'd been a fool, blinded to these people's plight and now...well, he'd
make it up to them, one man at a time. With a deep breath and a healthy
little chant (I think I can, I think I can...) for confidence, Darien
walked up to him.
"Excuse me sir," He said, "Uh, John, is it?"
"That's me. Now what can I do for you, son?" Darien watched John wince
slightly as the man shifted his sign to one arm, in order to shake
Darien's hand. Reaching forward, the younger man attempted to take the
sign.
"Here let me..." Darien pulled but John refused to part. He began
beating his apparent attacker with the edge of a wooden spoon.
"Let go. Let go I say..."
"I'm just trying to help..."
"Some one, look! He's stealing my sign!" People started turning,
staring at Darien in disgust. What kind of a person would steal from
the poor? Especially when said person showed up in a pair of nice pants
and a blue silk shirt! Darien finally gave up the sign when a little
girl in a dingy pink dress ran up and kicked him in the shin. He looked
around frantically, but saw no sign of Serena. Facing John, his
shoulders slumped.
"I'm sorry. I was just trying to lighten your burden on this *special*
day."
"Whatcha say?"
"What I mean is...Happy Birthday!" The man looked at him in terror and
backed up against the wall.
"No no, don't take my life away!"
"I...I..." Now people were stepping closer, as if to lock Darien within
a wall of faces. They watched him, wary, and some patted John's
shoulders comfortingly. One of the men, the man Serena had been
speaking with earlier, invaded his personal space and looked at his
sternly.
"We don't want no trouble here."
"I was just wishing him Happy Birthday!" Darien shouted, running a
harsh hand through his hair. The man looked at him in disbelief.
"Oh really. John turned 72 two months ago, young man. Serena was at the
party, ask her if you want proof"
And oh, how the peices fell into place. Despite the commotion, Darien
thought he detected the sound of laughter echoing from behind the wall.
Serena's laughter.
A while later, Darien dropped his body into the now set up chairs, next
to where Serena sat, silently chewing gum.
"That was cold. If I hadn't come to like everyone so much, I could
muster some more bitterness. So what happens now?"
She shrugged. "Now? Now we sit down and watch the play."
"Ser-e-na. No offense to any of the guys, I've really grown to like
them, but three *hours* of watching uneducated men try to read and act
out Othello? Isn't that a bit much?"
"I promise, you'll regret those words after five minutes."
"And if I don't, will your little sadistic games be over?"
She studied him for a moment. It was a risk. Were John and Paul
talented enough to make Darien cry? Hmmm. Their productions had never
left a dry face yet...and what better way to inflict more pain upon
Darien than giving him false hope? "Deal. But you'll be sobbing before
we're through here."
"I seriously doubt that." Darien grinned to himself. Unknown to Serena
was the fact that he'd seen Othello five times at the theater. He could
recite it, line for line, totally emotionless. There was no way he'd
be in tears.
Sometime Later...
Darien wiped his eyes, trying to rub away the sadness that had built up
inside of his heart. To his right, he heard Serena's sniffles, muffled
by her sweater.
Wait a minute. She wasn't wearing a sweater.
He tore his eyes away from the screen and found her burying her head
into his side. Around him, others were also tearful. Was this play
really that good?
Yes, it was. Darien tasted salt in his mouth and, unable to control his
reactions, wept freely.
How ironic it was, that free tears would prove to be the chains that
kept him enslaved.
******************************
"They feel like rain drops, falling from my eye-eyes. Falling from my
eyes."
Darien sighed and gave her a annoyed look. "Will you stop that?"
She paused, looked resigned, then burst out in song again. "Oh no, it
can't be teardrops for a man ain't supposed to cry. So it must be rain
drops..."
They were on their way to Crown Arcades, for Darien's last meal, before
Serena dragged him off to yet another wonderfully wonderful place. With
his luck, she'd throw him into a pit full of cobras. He almost
mentioned this to her, but then remembered about the whole suffocating
him with his own saliva idea and stopped. Earlier, he's suggested that
drowning in spit would no doubt suffice for a cruel way of vengeance,
but she'd declared that it would be the 'quick way out'. Can't have
that, she'd said, her smile never faltering.
Instead, they would soon help a group of ten year old cheerleaders
build an obstacle course though the local park.
They approached their destination and Serena pulled back the doors to
the Crown. It was relatively empty, no doubt due to the number of kids
that were on vacation. In fact, only one group of people were there at
all, and they sat huddled around a table in the back.
Darien groaned when he realized just who was in that group. He spun
around on his heels and tried to pull Serena away when...
"Hey! If it isn't our favorite newlyweds. How's married life treating
you all?" The sound of Andrew Baker's voice brought two differing
emotions from the couple that had just walked in. One was escalated,
the other, devestated.
Care to guess which one was Darien's?
He considering just dragging Serena out of there with him, but soon
realized she was already at Andrew's side, chatting happily. He
swallowed a strange emotion then, upon seeing her lock arms with Drew
and smile in that pretty way. It was almost...uncomfortable...to watch
them together. Before he could say anything in the matter, a pair of
arms had pulled him into a seat between Rei and Mina.
The raven-haired girl fixed a longing gaze on him, but suddenly looked
away. Darien felt something brush past him and thought for a moment
that Mina had just kicked Rei. But the blonde was paying too much
attention to Serena's story to have done *that*. Right?
Refocusing on his make-believe wife, Darien found himself almost angry
now, that she should flirt so obviously with his best friend. Acting
like Mrs. Darien Shields had been part of the deal. He tried to ignore
it but finally stood up and motioned for her to follow.
As they walked to another part of the Crown, Serena frowned. Darien had
been acting odd that whole time. When they reached a point where no
wandering ears could hear them, she asked why.
"Because, Serena...you're...you're...look, I know it sounds silly. But
this paper is worth a lot of points and I need to do a good job...I
can't do that if you're not willing to try..."
"What?" She raised an eyebrow, Vulcan style. "I *have* been trying."
"But now you're...you and Drew..." He stammered, awkwardly, desperately
trying to phrase it in a way that would make him sound less of an
jealous tyrant. "I mean...oh, nevermind."
But Serena already understood. Nodding she smiled a little. "Oh. I'm
sorry Darien. I didn't even think..."
"Forget it. It's a stupid thought."
"No, it isn't. My parents haven't maintained a happy marrige by
flirting with their friends. They've done it through trust and
loyalty." And love, she thought. Serena slung her arm around Darien's
waist and started walking back to the table. The group stared,
wide-eyed at the sight. Serena and Darien actually...hugging?
Elizabeth pushed a glass of juice away from her "All right. Who put the
vodka into their drinks?"
"Guys, Me and Darien have an appointment. I'll see you later." And with
those finale words, left the arcade.
Rei looked at Elizabeth. "It was Mina."
***********************************
Perhaps it was cruel to shove Darien, a good-looking young guy, into a
mob of crazed six grade girls and then step aside.
Serena certainly hoped so.
They were very clingy, all begging Darien to lift them up so that they
could tie a rope to the tree, inquiring if he had a girl friend, if he
preferred 'younger women', and did he know that they'd already had at
least two boyfriends? His expression pleaded with Serena for help and
she gladly agreed.
The fun had just started. Walking up to him, she put her arms around
him yet again. "Sorry girls. He's way to old for you and he's taken."
They pouted but gave him his space. Serena was the best coach they'd
ever had and no guy could hold a handle to that.
At least not until Darien fell head first into a pit of mud
(intentionally set up by *someone*) and bathed his shirt in the gooy
brown substance. With a sigh that sounded more like a small furry
woodland creature being picked apart by wild boars' tusks, he removed
the garmemt.
For a group of girls who'd just realized that boys didn't have cooties
and were more than ready to learn about their other sides, this was
quite the thrill.
For one young lady who'd liked boys for quite a while, this was also
quite the thrill. So much in fact, that she almost didn't hear him
talking to her.
"Serena" Darien was saying. "Can't I do something else? Isn't there a
sign you want me to post or a knot that needs securing?"
"Well..." Atrractive or not, Darien was paying for his little white
lie. And every other mean thing he'd ever done to her. It was time for
the next part of her plan. "I need someone to set up the netting
underneath the playset. You can do that."
"Great." He reached for the netting and set off to accomplish that
one, easy enough task. Serena watched him go, then spoke quietly.
"OH, by the way...there's a few ant holes under there..."
Darien turned back to her. "Did you say something?"
She grinned and tossed a half eaten candy bar at him. "Can you hold
this for me?"
******************************
"You are pure evil." He scubbed his scalp hard, as if it had been
conspiring with Serena. "Roger Chillingsworth would be appalled at your
obession with revenge."
"Whatever you say Darien" She turned the page of her magazine, hiding
the naturally-induced high that had come from watching Darien on his
knees, crawling rapidly away from a sea of black ants behind a mask of
indifference.
"You do not get to choose any more activities for the day."
"Of course not Darien."
"I mean it. This has been a tiring day. I plan to go to my car as soon
as this is over, and drive as far away from this park and horribly
smelling bathroom, and just sleep."
"That's fine Darien."
"You can come if you want. If not, you can borrow my cellphone and ask
someone to give you a ride to the apartment. Those are your only
options and you are lucky I'm giving you them."
"Thank you Darien."
"And will you stop that!" She looked over at him, his head half buried
in the bathroom sink, his shirt and pants hung over the stall, a towel
wrapped securely around his waist.
It really was a pleasant sight. And on so many levels.
Her plan had come to a glorious conclusion. Only one more thing and
they'd be even. Standing up, she pretended to yawn. "Well, if you're
through scolding me, I'll be retiring to your car."
"Whatever."
Her hands came in contact with his clothing. She watched him and when
poured another batch of travel-size shampoo onto his head and body, she
grabbed them. "Oh and Darien? One last thing. I'll be borrowing these."
In a spilt second, she was gone.
For a moment, things didn't register. Then...she couldn't have. She
*wouldn't* have.
She had.
Darien ran after her, not caring that he was half naked in a public
place. "Serena! Come back with my clothes." He found her, with a cheeky
grin. Inside his car. Along with his clothes. Someone walking along the
sidewalk laughed aloud. A mother, passing through with her child,
shielded the youth from the sight. "Serena...please?"
She rolled down the window, just enough to speak. "Promise you won't
come after me in the night?"
"...yes...please, just let my in..." The locked switched open and he
sank into the comfort of his car. His head fell back onto the seat and
he sighed, deeply. "Serena..."
Serena finally floated down to earth. She patted his arm. "I'm sorry,
Darien. Maybe I took it too far."
"You think?"
"I mean, I just wanted to get back at you for all the mean things
you've said and done to me."
"Well congratulations. I think you have."
"I guess I should've acted like a wife instead of like Calvin on
Prozac."
"You know what Serena?"
"What?"
"I'm kind of glad you did. I know now my wife would've had a sense of
humor and that's a trait I had thought about until just now."
"Why now?"
Darien turned to face her. "Because she'd have had to laugh at this!"
And he smashed a soaking wet rag into her mouth, leaving her sputtering
and trying to spit out the offending object.
They both laughed, at each other and themselves. Serena raised a hand
to contain the peels of laughter and Darien caught a glimpse of a small
golden sparkle. He looked down at his hand and found a similar glow.
He'd have to make a note of that in his paper. If marriage meant being
this happy, despite all the troubles, maybe it wasn't so bad after all.
AN: I did it! I finished the chapter that would not end! Sorry about
the delay. It took like a week longer to write than I wanted it too,
but, alls well that ends well. Since my disclaimer is only in the
beginning of the story, I'd like to add a few things here. One, Darien
mentions someone named Amontillado. That is an allusion to Poe's The
Cask Of Amontillado. Roger Chillingsworth is the obsessivly jealous
husband in The Scarlet Letter. Don't read it unless you have to.
Oh, and guess what? Only one more chapter left! And the epilogue but
that's gonna be included in the next post as well. It's almost over!
because first I started writing and then realized I'd introduced the
scouts and I decided not to, so I erased the plans and started over.
Then realized that I'd already talked about them in the first paragraph
of the story, so...I went back and readded them. The result contains a
little bit of both drafts and some new stuff. Anyways,
I hope you like it, thank you sooooo much for reviewing it, and
remember to smile!
I can be reached at eileenblzr@yahoo.com Bye now!
Symbiosis Chapter 5
"Do you have any idea what sort of night I've had? I had this boy
trying to strangle his mother in the kitchen, the police and ambulance
round, tranquilizer darts, drives to the hosptial...and it was hardly
my fault." -Bridget Jones, Edge of Reason
Darien lay in bed, listening as the pendulum of his clock swung back
and forth in a easy rhythm. It was morning, and the curtains were open
just enough to let a small sliver of light seep in. He was on his
stomach, hands folded over the pillow, so that he could see Serena as
she lay tangled in her blankets.
She looked so innocent, with her arms and legs stretched out like an
infant, blonde mane spread like a fan beneath her. It almost hard to
believe that she would soon rise, smile, and go out of her way to
humiliate him. Serena hadn't told Darien what exactly the plans for the
day were but he could imagine. He'd probably return home a broken shell
of a man with glassy eyes and a slight limp, only able to mummble the
words 'Of course that dress doesn't make you look fat' and 'but Serena,
you just ate'.
That's right, he told himself as he arose and walked into the bathroom.
As angelic as she may appear, there was revenge on her mind. Revenge in
an
evil-villian-whose-just-gotten-the-chance-to-torture-superhero-with-a-
toothpick kind of way. Perhaps he would call her Iago. Beware Darien,
beware the sinister thoughts that lurk beneath a veil of loveliness and
chastity!
Oh boy. Darien turned on the water and dipped his head in. The wait was
definitely getting to him.
***************************
Serena was gone when he got out of the shower. Darien poked his head
into the living room and found her perched on the edge of a chair, feet
dangling and newspaper in hand.
"I thought you were asleep." He questioned.
She shrugged, not looking up at him. "I had to get up and make a few
calls."
"Really? Needed to ask suggestions on how to torment me?"
"Oh, don't worry about that Darien. I have plently of my own ideas."
Her blue eyes twinkled merrily as she continued reading. "By the end of
the day, you will have cried, crawled, and will be begging me to help."
"Riiiight."
****************************
Serena found herself stifling a giggle as Darien emerged from the back
of an old gray truck, lifting a box one eighth his size and twice his
weight. Maybe she should have told him that it contained pieces of
granite as soon as he volunteered to carry it, all tough and
masculine-like...
But where was the fun in that?
Darien staggered, grunted, and, in an abnormally high voice, said
"Where should I put it?" Serena turned and looked at the old man at her
side. His clothing was worn and slightly ragged but his smile was as
bright as day.
"By the stage." Answered the man, exchanging a glance with Serena. He
lowered his head and whispered. "Is that any way to treat your new
boyfriend?"
She blushed and shook her head. "He's not my boyfriend. Just a jerk who
needs to be taught a lesson."
"And you want our help?"
"MmmHmm. If it's not too much trouble..."
The old man chuckled. "You kids today. Fine, fine. We'll lend a
hand...but the show will go on!"
"Naturally." Just then another slightly rumpled man called and off the
old guy went. Serena grinned broadly as a hunched over Darien waddled
over to her.
He stared hard at her with narrowed eyes. "Tell me again why I'm here,
behind Seven Eleven, moving heavy boxes on and off a two foot high
stage made of cardboard stacked upon cardboard while you and a bunch of
old shabby guys gawk and laugh?"
"I'm trying to save our marriage, Darien. You broke the trust and I am
just making the best endeavo-"
"Serena..." he growled. She lit up like a firecracker.
"Revenge is sweeter than chocolate."
"Yeah, well you could give Amontillado a run for his money."
Serena came up to him and placed a hand over his shoulder. "Aw, po'
baby. Does Dari need a wittle napy-poo?" She dissolved into giggles
and clung to him for support. When the fit passed, she looked up, her
eyes momentarily serious. "Their not old shabby guys. They're homeless.
And the only way to make money by working is to put on plays. That
stage you were making fun of was handmade and the result of 50 men
saving and working together for a common goal. So cheer up, Darien.
When today ends, we're going back to your penthouse. They're going to
the local shelter. Oh, and you see that man sitting in the corner?
John? It's his birthday. No one even said anything to him." She pulled
away and left him standing there, speechless.
Well, didn't he feel like a heel.
He scanned the set before seeing a elderly loose-toothed man with a few
wisps of hair. Darien watched him and suddenly he knew that he was the
John Serena had mentioned. It was just this feeling that passed through
him, setting his senses alive, making them acute to any and all
intuitions he may feel.
That and the fact that the old man was sitting in the corner, carrying
a sign that said: I'm John, ask for Help/Information. Daren gulped.
He'd been a fool, blinded to these people's plight and now...well, he'd
make it up to them, one man at a time. With a deep breath and a healthy
little chant (I think I can, I think I can...) for confidence, Darien
walked up to him.
"Excuse me sir," He said, "Uh, John, is it?"
"That's me. Now what can I do for you, son?" Darien watched John wince
slightly as the man shifted his sign to one arm, in order to shake
Darien's hand. Reaching forward, the younger man attempted to take the
sign.
"Here let me..." Darien pulled but John refused to part. He began
beating his apparent attacker with the edge of a wooden spoon.
"Let go. Let go I say..."
"I'm just trying to help..."
"Some one, look! He's stealing my sign!" People started turning,
staring at Darien in disgust. What kind of a person would steal from
the poor? Especially when said person showed up in a pair of nice pants
and a blue silk shirt! Darien finally gave up the sign when a little
girl in a dingy pink dress ran up and kicked him in the shin. He looked
around frantically, but saw no sign of Serena. Facing John, his
shoulders slumped.
"I'm sorry. I was just trying to lighten your burden on this *special*
day."
"Whatcha say?"
"What I mean is...Happy Birthday!" The man looked at him in terror and
backed up against the wall.
"No no, don't take my life away!"
"I...I..." Now people were stepping closer, as if to lock Darien within
a wall of faces. They watched him, wary, and some patted John's
shoulders comfortingly. One of the men, the man Serena had been
speaking with earlier, invaded his personal space and looked at his
sternly.
"We don't want no trouble here."
"I was just wishing him Happy Birthday!" Darien shouted, running a
harsh hand through his hair. The man looked at him in disbelief.
"Oh really. John turned 72 two months ago, young man. Serena was at the
party, ask her if you want proof"
And oh, how the peices fell into place. Despite the commotion, Darien
thought he detected the sound of laughter echoing from behind the wall.
Serena's laughter.
A while later, Darien dropped his body into the now set up chairs, next
to where Serena sat, silently chewing gum.
"That was cold. If I hadn't come to like everyone so much, I could
muster some more bitterness. So what happens now?"
She shrugged. "Now? Now we sit down and watch the play."
"Ser-e-na. No offense to any of the guys, I've really grown to like
them, but three *hours* of watching uneducated men try to read and act
out Othello? Isn't that a bit much?"
"I promise, you'll regret those words after five minutes."
"And if I don't, will your little sadistic games be over?"
She studied him for a moment. It was a risk. Were John and Paul
talented enough to make Darien cry? Hmmm. Their productions had never
left a dry face yet...and what better way to inflict more pain upon
Darien than giving him false hope? "Deal. But you'll be sobbing before
we're through here."
"I seriously doubt that." Darien grinned to himself. Unknown to Serena
was the fact that he'd seen Othello five times at the theater. He could
recite it, line for line, totally emotionless. There was no way he'd
be in tears.
Sometime Later...
Darien wiped his eyes, trying to rub away the sadness that had built up
inside of his heart. To his right, he heard Serena's sniffles, muffled
by her sweater.
Wait a minute. She wasn't wearing a sweater.
He tore his eyes away from the screen and found her burying her head
into his side. Around him, others were also tearful. Was this play
really that good?
Yes, it was. Darien tasted salt in his mouth and, unable to control his
reactions, wept freely.
How ironic it was, that free tears would prove to be the chains that
kept him enslaved.
******************************
"They feel like rain drops, falling from my eye-eyes. Falling from my
eyes."
Darien sighed and gave her a annoyed look. "Will you stop that?"
She paused, looked resigned, then burst out in song again. "Oh no, it
can't be teardrops for a man ain't supposed to cry. So it must be rain
drops..."
They were on their way to Crown Arcades, for Darien's last meal, before
Serena dragged him off to yet another wonderfully wonderful place. With
his luck, she'd throw him into a pit full of cobras. He almost
mentioned this to her, but then remembered about the whole suffocating
him with his own saliva idea and stopped. Earlier, he's suggested that
drowning in spit would no doubt suffice for a cruel way of vengeance,
but she'd declared that it would be the 'quick way out'. Can't have
that, she'd said, her smile never faltering.
Instead, they would soon help a group of ten year old cheerleaders
build an obstacle course though the local park.
They approached their destination and Serena pulled back the doors to
the Crown. It was relatively empty, no doubt due to the number of kids
that were on vacation. In fact, only one group of people were there at
all, and they sat huddled around a table in the back.
Darien groaned when he realized just who was in that group. He spun
around on his heels and tried to pull Serena away when...
"Hey! If it isn't our favorite newlyweds. How's married life treating
you all?" The sound of Andrew Baker's voice brought two differing
emotions from the couple that had just walked in. One was escalated,
the other, devestated.
Care to guess which one was Darien's?
He considering just dragging Serena out of there with him, but soon
realized she was already at Andrew's side, chatting happily. He
swallowed a strange emotion then, upon seeing her lock arms with Drew
and smile in that pretty way. It was almost...uncomfortable...to watch
them together. Before he could say anything in the matter, a pair of
arms had pulled him into a seat between Rei and Mina.
The raven-haired girl fixed a longing gaze on him, but suddenly looked
away. Darien felt something brush past him and thought for a moment
that Mina had just kicked Rei. But the blonde was paying too much
attention to Serena's story to have done *that*. Right?
Refocusing on his make-believe wife, Darien found himself almost angry
now, that she should flirt so obviously with his best friend. Acting
like Mrs. Darien Shields had been part of the deal. He tried to ignore
it but finally stood up and motioned for her to follow.
As they walked to another part of the Crown, Serena frowned. Darien had
been acting odd that whole time. When they reached a point where no
wandering ears could hear them, she asked why.
"Because, Serena...you're...you're...look, I know it sounds silly. But
this paper is worth a lot of points and I need to do a good job...I
can't do that if you're not willing to try..."
"What?" She raised an eyebrow, Vulcan style. "I *have* been trying."
"But now you're...you and Drew..." He stammered, awkwardly, desperately
trying to phrase it in a way that would make him sound less of an
jealous tyrant. "I mean...oh, nevermind."
But Serena already understood. Nodding she smiled a little. "Oh. I'm
sorry Darien. I didn't even think..."
"Forget it. It's a stupid thought."
"No, it isn't. My parents haven't maintained a happy marrige by
flirting with their friends. They've done it through trust and
loyalty." And love, she thought. Serena slung her arm around Darien's
waist and started walking back to the table. The group stared,
wide-eyed at the sight. Serena and Darien actually...hugging?
Elizabeth pushed a glass of juice away from her "All right. Who put the
vodka into their drinks?"
"Guys, Me and Darien have an appointment. I'll see you later." And with
those finale words, left the arcade.
Rei looked at Elizabeth. "It was Mina."
***********************************
Perhaps it was cruel to shove Darien, a good-looking young guy, into a
mob of crazed six grade girls and then step aside.
Serena certainly hoped so.
They were very clingy, all begging Darien to lift them up so that they
could tie a rope to the tree, inquiring if he had a girl friend, if he
preferred 'younger women', and did he know that they'd already had at
least two boyfriends? His expression pleaded with Serena for help and
she gladly agreed.
The fun had just started. Walking up to him, she put her arms around
him yet again. "Sorry girls. He's way to old for you and he's taken."
They pouted but gave him his space. Serena was the best coach they'd
ever had and no guy could hold a handle to that.
At least not until Darien fell head first into a pit of mud
(intentionally set up by *someone*) and bathed his shirt in the gooy
brown substance. With a sigh that sounded more like a small furry
woodland creature being picked apart by wild boars' tusks, he removed
the garmemt.
For a group of girls who'd just realized that boys didn't have cooties
and were more than ready to learn about their other sides, this was
quite the thrill.
For one young lady who'd liked boys for quite a while, this was also
quite the thrill. So much in fact, that she almost didn't hear him
talking to her.
"Serena" Darien was saying. "Can't I do something else? Isn't there a
sign you want me to post or a knot that needs securing?"
"Well..." Atrractive or not, Darien was paying for his little white
lie. And every other mean thing he'd ever done to her. It was time for
the next part of her plan. "I need someone to set up the netting
underneath the playset. You can do that."
"Great." He reached for the netting and set off to accomplish that
one, easy enough task. Serena watched him go, then spoke quietly.
"OH, by the way...there's a few ant holes under there..."
Darien turned back to her. "Did you say something?"
She grinned and tossed a half eaten candy bar at him. "Can you hold
this for me?"
******************************
"You are pure evil." He scubbed his scalp hard, as if it had been
conspiring with Serena. "Roger Chillingsworth would be appalled at your
obession with revenge."
"Whatever you say Darien" She turned the page of her magazine, hiding
the naturally-induced high that had come from watching Darien on his
knees, crawling rapidly away from a sea of black ants behind a mask of
indifference.
"You do not get to choose any more activities for the day."
"Of course not Darien."
"I mean it. This has been a tiring day. I plan to go to my car as soon
as this is over, and drive as far away from this park and horribly
smelling bathroom, and just sleep."
"That's fine Darien."
"You can come if you want. If not, you can borrow my cellphone and ask
someone to give you a ride to the apartment. Those are your only
options and you are lucky I'm giving you them."
"Thank you Darien."
"And will you stop that!" She looked over at him, his head half buried
in the bathroom sink, his shirt and pants hung over the stall, a towel
wrapped securely around his waist.
It really was a pleasant sight. And on so many levels.
Her plan had come to a glorious conclusion. Only one more thing and
they'd be even. Standing up, she pretended to yawn. "Well, if you're
through scolding me, I'll be retiring to your car."
"Whatever."
Her hands came in contact with his clothing. She watched him and when
poured another batch of travel-size shampoo onto his head and body, she
grabbed them. "Oh and Darien? One last thing. I'll be borrowing these."
In a spilt second, she was gone.
For a moment, things didn't register. Then...she couldn't have. She
*wouldn't* have.
She had.
Darien ran after her, not caring that he was half naked in a public
place. "Serena! Come back with my clothes." He found her, with a cheeky
grin. Inside his car. Along with his clothes. Someone walking along the
sidewalk laughed aloud. A mother, passing through with her child,
shielded the youth from the sight. "Serena...please?"
She rolled down the window, just enough to speak. "Promise you won't
come after me in the night?"
"...yes...please, just let my in..." The locked switched open and he
sank into the comfort of his car. His head fell back onto the seat and
he sighed, deeply. "Serena..."
Serena finally floated down to earth. She patted his arm. "I'm sorry,
Darien. Maybe I took it too far."
"You think?"
"I mean, I just wanted to get back at you for all the mean things
you've said and done to me."
"Well congratulations. I think you have."
"I guess I should've acted like a wife instead of like Calvin on
Prozac."
"You know what Serena?"
"What?"
"I'm kind of glad you did. I know now my wife would've had a sense of
humor and that's a trait I had thought about until just now."
"Why now?"
Darien turned to face her. "Because she'd have had to laugh at this!"
And he smashed a soaking wet rag into her mouth, leaving her sputtering
and trying to spit out the offending object.
They both laughed, at each other and themselves. Serena raised a hand
to contain the peels of laughter and Darien caught a glimpse of a small
golden sparkle. He looked down at his hand and found a similar glow.
He'd have to make a note of that in his paper. If marriage meant being
this happy, despite all the troubles, maybe it wasn't so bad after all.
AN: I did it! I finished the chapter that would not end! Sorry about
the delay. It took like a week longer to write than I wanted it too,
but, alls well that ends well. Since my disclaimer is only in the
beginning of the story, I'd like to add a few things here. One, Darien
mentions someone named Amontillado. That is an allusion to Poe's The
Cask Of Amontillado. Roger Chillingsworth is the obsessivly jealous
husband in The Scarlet Letter. Don't read it unless you have to.
Oh, and guess what? Only one more chapter left! And the epilogue but
that's gonna be included in the next post as well. It's almost over!