Chapter Six
The next morning Serena woke up early. She had not realized how excited she was to be going to the fair with Darien until right that moment. She was dressed and had breakfast ready before Darien had even managed to drag himself off the couch. She knew he was awake though because he had made a comment about how nice it was to wake up to a beautiful lady making breakfast for him every morning. She had laughed and told him to keep his lying tongue in his mouth.
They had finished eating and she had left him to do the dishes while she went to do her hair. She was brushing it back into a ponytail when Darien walked into the bathroom. He disentangled her fingers from her hair and ran his fingers through it. Serena did not protest until he stopped.
"I have a favor to ask," he said as she started brushing her hair again.
She didn't talk for a moment as she worked the brush through a small knot he had made. "What."
Once again, he pushed the brush away. This time instead of just running his hands through it, he split it into two halves, and pushed one over each shoulder. She could feel him painstakingly working on the part down the back of her head. When he was done, he rested his chin on top of her head and met her eyes in the mirror. "Will your hair up in its meatballs?"
She wanted to say yes, not only because he asked so nicely but also because she missed wearing her hair up that way. Only, the last time she wore it like that...
Darien must have seen her thoughts on her face because he interrupted them before they could really disturb her. "I miss seeing the twin ponytails flying around you. Also, I cannot really call you Meatball Head otherwise. It just doesn't make sense."
The light in Serena's eyes danced, "You won't call me that anyway." She wasn't serious and she knew he knew it. In fact, she found that she actually liked how he said it, without a trace of mockery in his voice.
"So you'll wear it like that?"
"Just for you because you like it so much," she told him solemnly. This time though, she wasn't sure if he realized that she meant it.
Darien smiled at her then opened the door to his bedroom. "You're going to have to do it in here though. Unless you want to watch me shower?"
That was too much for Serena. She blushed a deep red and hurried into the other room. Once there though she sat on the bed, not starting on her hair right away. 'He likes my hair like that? Then why did he always bug me about it?' Though she couldn't understand why he seemed to have changed his mind she couldn't help but feel warm. If he could decide he liked her hair the way she wore it, without wanting to change anything, maybe that meant he could learn to like her too, just the way she was.
When she finished daydreaming, Serena set to work on her hair. She found that though it had been a month since she had done this style, she could still remember how to do it so well she figured she could probably do it in the dark. Luckily, she had packed her bobby pins by habit when getting ready to go to Lita's place. So, she didn't have to worry about that. Actually, even better than that was that she had also thrown in her fancy hairpins and hair ribbons. When she was done she took two of the longest light blue ribbons she had and tied one around each of her 'meatballs' in a bow. To be sure they did not fall out she found two pins that had white flowers on the end of them. These she pushed into the 'meatball' right over the middle of the bow. For the final touch, she took the end pieces of the ribbon, which hung almost as long as the ponytails themselves, and curled them carefully with a pair of scissors. The result was that each blond ponytail had blue spiraling around it.
She finished just as Darien walked in from the bathroom. For once, he was not wearing all black. Instead, he had on normal blue jeans and a green shirt. Looking at her, he walked over to his closet and pulled out a blue and black sweater. "For in case you get cold," he told her as he tied it around her waist. When he was done, he did not let go of the sleeves, efficiently holding them inches apart but without any contact.
Serena looked up at him into his ocean eyes and felt her knees go weak. All she had to do was take that last step and wrap her arms around his neck. From there it would be easy to pull his mouth down to hers and finish what they had almost started in the park. She had almost found the courage to take that step when the phone rang. Darien held on to her a moment longer before leaving to answer it. Only when he was gone did she realize that her breathing had quickened.
Calming herself, she walked out into the living room just as he hung up the phone. "It was Raye. She just wanted to know if we were going or not. I told her we would meet them there."
"Them?" Serena heard herself asking. She had forgotten that it was more than likely that she would not actually be alone with Darien.
"We all know that you were, shall we say reluctant, to leave here. They just want to be there if you need them." Walking up he held a hand out to her. Looking up at him, she tried to say as much as she could as she took his hand, without actually saying anything. She tried to tell him that she trusted him to be there for her, that she was thankful he had realized she did not want to be alone, even though she did not realize it herself. Mostly she wanted to thank him for taking care of her this past week and a half, and showing her that she was capable of trusting again. She knew he understood when he gave her hand a small squeeze then entwined his fingers with hers.
They arrived at the fair when it was well under way. When Darien asked her where she wanted to go first she had giggled and asked him if he really needed to ask. Then she led him straight to the row of food booths.
Darien chuckled, saying, "It's good to see you've got your appetite back." She had just finished off her second corndog.
Serena looked at him slyly. "I need to, being around you all the time."
"Huh?" he asked, clearly confused.
Giggling she told him, "I need the energy to put up with your arrogance."
"No more than I need to put up with your incessant talking," he retorted. She knew he didn't mean it anymore than she had. She smiled as she felt his foot hit hers than stop. Even that small contact was comforting.
Her peace was not to last though. Just as she was about to make a remark back she heard her name being called. Turning she saw Amy, Mina, Lita, and Raye making their way over. When the girls reached them they plopped down at the table, Mina and Raye taking the two chairs that were already there and Amy and Lita grabbing empty chairs from nearby tables.
"So," Raye started, smiling wickedly, "Are you at each others throats yet. If so, I want to see some bloodshed."
"He said that I talk in... in," Serena struggled to say the word Darien had used. "Oh, what is that word?"
"Incessant," he supplied for her.
"That's the one," she cried, her ponytails flying around her as she looked over at him.
"It's only the truth," Darien said, sounding aristocratic. Then he chuckled, "Besides, you called me arrogant."
Serena matched his tone perfectly, "It's only the truth." Then she broke the facade by sticking her tongue out at him.
The other four couldn't help but exchange knowing glances. Serena saw them but she didn't bother to call them on it. For once, they were right. "So, what are our plans for today?" Serena asked Darien.
Mina answered her, "We are going to drag you two onto every ride. There is no way we're going to let you sit here and make googoo eyes at each other all day."
Both Darien and Serena blushed, though she guessed hers was a bit worse. "That okay with you?" she asked, half way hoping that he would say no.
"Sure, why not," was his answer. He must have seem her slight disappointment because once they were all up and walking he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "We'll let them have their fun, and then we'll go for a walk."
She smiled up at him. Then, giving the hand that had found its way into hers a squeeze, she ran up ahead to where the girls were checking out one of the games booths. "What's so interesting?"
"The plan you two were talking about," Lita laughed, pulling on one of Serena's ponytails.
"Hey!" she cried. "What did you do that for?"
Lita smiled and shrugged, "Because I could. It's good to see your hair up the way it should be."
"Thanks," Serena said, meaning it.
"Yeah, Meatball Head, now you match your name," Raye couldn't help but get in.
"Raye," Serena whined.
"Here we go again," Amy muttered, rolling her eyes.
Instead of the fight they were expecting for Serena and Raye, Serena grabbed the raven-haired girl's hand and led the race toward the rides. Mina, Lita and Amy stared after them in shock for a moment. Then, unwilling to let them win, the other three took off running.
The first ride Raye insisted they stop at was the roller coaster. The others were quick to agree. Serena looked straight up, searching for the top. When she did, it felt as if her stomach dropped into her feet. "That's pretty high, you guys." She was shaking her head and backing up a few steps. "I'm scared of heights."
Darien came up behind her, blocking her retreat. "Oh come on Meatball Head," he coaxed. "They only want you to go on once. Besides, isn't this the week of getting over your fears?"
Try as she might Serena couldn't come with any other reasons of why she really shouldn't go on that thing. 'What am I doing? I'm going to die on that thing!' She gave in to Mina's puppy eyes and Darien's hand pressing her forward. "Okay. But I'll never forgive any of you!"
They reached the top of the first drop and Serena very much doubted her decision. She held Darien's hand in a death grip. When she looked over, she could not believe he was actually smiling. "I hate you," she mouthed, not able to get any sound past the blockage in her throat.
"I forgive you," Darien had the audacity the mouth back.
Serena couldn't do anything about it. At that moment, the roller coaster let go of the chains that pulled it to the top and quickly picked up speed. Zipping down the tracks. Her fingers were white, as were her knuckles from her grip on the safety device, and she was sure Darien was regretting letting her hold his hand. She heard herself scream. The amazing thing was, she remembered Darien's advice from the motorbike, "Relax, don't fight it." And she found herself enjoying the ride. However, that definitely did not mean she was ever going to go on this death ride ever again.
Staggering off at the end Serena threw a pointed glance at her friends, Darien included, "If you ever get me on that thing again, it will be my dead body!" She could not hide her smile and the excitement she was feeling.
"Okay," Amy nodded seriously. Then, very un-Amy like, she led the way to the next ride, insisting that Serena also ride this one. So it went for the whole afternoon, until finally they had done justice to every ride there. Serena collapsed at the base of a tree that was a ways from the fair itself, but close enough that she could watch the people wandering around the grounds. The girls collapse all around her, mostly deciding to lay right down. Darien lowered himself to the ground and shared the tree with her. "As much as I hate you all for half those rides, I still had fun today."
"Oh that's good," Raye said sarcastically, "I don't think we could live if the great Serena thought any less of us."
Serena did not grace that with a comment, just stuck her tongue out in Raye's direction. "Grow up you two," Lita moaned, her voice muffled by the grass her face was buried in.
"You know what," Mina said, pushing herself up onto her elbows, "I think we should go check out the games."
"Ah, Mina, let us get some rest," Lita managed to actually sit up this time.
"Yes Mina," Amy agreed, looking up from her book, "We really should be careful to get some rest. Or we will totally exhaust ourselves."
"You guys," Mina hissed. "Let's go. We've rested long enough. And it's summer, for once you can't use studying as another excuse, Amy."
Serena felt Darien chuckle. "You may want to go along with her. Before she has to come right out and say she thinks it's time you left us alone."
Mina had the good graces to blush and it appeared she couldn't quite meet Darien's eyes. His comment worked though and the other three were soon up, saying how much good their brief rest had done. When they were gone, Serena looked up at Darien, "I think you embarrassed her."
"She'll survive," he said. "So, did you really have fun today?"
"Yes, I did." She stretched out her arm and grabbed his hand. Then she leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes.
There was a moment of silence, which Darien was the one to finally break. "You are beautiful."
Serena didn't open her eyes but she did smile, "I thought I told you to keep your lying tongue still."
"I'm not lying."
She couldn't help but open her eyes to see if he was laughing at her. He wasn't, she could tell by the look in his eyes. The fact that he had shifted how he was sitting so that he faced her, and his face was now mere inches from hers gave her a clear view of his eyes. Serena couldn't move, not from fear, but anticipation. She may have pulled away in the park but she was determined not to repeat that mistake here.
Bringing up her free hand she once again traced his face, yet this time he was very aware of it. Her finger followed the exact path it had the other morning, including skimming over his lips. He grabbed her hand before she could pull away and kissed the tips of her fingers. Serena felt not only her breath stop, but her heart as well. It seemed to take an eternity as he leaned forward and she sat up straighter to meet him. His kiss was just as gentle and slow as she had imagined it would be. At first, she barely felt it and was afraid he was going to pull away. He continued to give her little butterfly kisses, deepening the contact with each one, until his mouth stayed firmly on hers.
Then he led her on another slow dance, flicking his tongue over her lips, urging her to open her mouth. She did and the warm feeling that spread through her body shocked her. She felt him settle himself more comfortably in front of her and bring his now free hands up to her waist. Suddenly she found herself straddling his lap. No longer able to resist she had just started returning the kiss more actively when a familiar voice interrupted them.
"So, I was right. She has been with you Darien."
As if shot, Serena jerked away from Darien. 'Not now,' her mind pleaded, 'Not him.'
Darien stood, pulling her up with him, and together they turned to face Aaron. "What does it matter to you?" Darien asked, the hardness in his voice even frightening Serena slightly.
Aaron laughed cruelly, "Well, the fact that she was my girlfriend might have something to do with it."
"What about her?" Darien nodded his head in the direction of a girl that was obviously waiting for Aaron.
"Oh, her. She's nothing, just a toy." Aaron smirked, and then turned his knowing gaze to Serena.
She felt the fear rise up and she started to shake, as if a cold breeze had just blown by. "What do... do you want?" she managed to say.
Aaron looked her up and down, sending more shivers down her spine. "Nothing, I was just wondering if you've been enjoying your stay at his place. If he has been as good to you as I was. Obviously, he hasn't been as honest as I was though. I see you've gone back to that pathetic hairstyle."
Serena could feel the tension in Darien, knew that he was feeling the need to hurt Aaron on her behalf. She tightened her grip on his hand, effectively holding him by her side. When Aaron turned those cold eyes back on Darien, she almost felt grateful, until she heard his next cutting remark. "So, Darien. Have you been enjoying her visit? I know I did the one night she stayed at my place." A leer accompanied his comment.
"Hey, buddy!" Serena was relieved to see that the girls had chosen that moment to return, and Lita looked as if she had already guessed who Aaron was.
Just to clarify it for the others, Serena managed shakily, "Girls, this is Aaron. I know how much you've all wanted to meet him."
At the mention of his name, the four girls positioned themselves protectively between Serena and Aaron. "Get gone," Raye said, barely holding her anger in check.
"You may want to go away, very far away," Mina added.
Amy didn't have much to say but Serena had never seen the slight girl look more formidable, even when facing the negaverse.
Aaron knew when he was out numbered and turned to walk away, but he couldn't help but throw back one last comment. "Looks to me, like you've been having even more fun than I thought Darien." He walked away chuckling.
"Girls!" Serena cried. She almost said scouts when they moved as if to attack him but managed to change the word at the last moment. Turning to Darien, she grabbed his other hand, forcing him to look at her. "Let it go Darien. He isn't worth it."
From the look of sorrow that replaced his anger, she guessed that he now had an idea as to why she had been so scared. Before he could figure it out for sure, or ask her about it, she said, "Would you take me home, Darien?"
"Wouldn't it be better if you went with Lita? You are supposed to be at her place."
"I want to go with you," Serena insisted, and she knew there was no way any one of them would argue with her. After saying goodbye and assuring them that she was okay, they left the girls and headed to his car. They arrived at his apartment in silence and there was no chance for words because Serena escaped into his bedroom almost immediately.