The final bell rang and Serena walked briskly toward her locker.
She was in an almost dazed state. Darien wanted to talk to HER. It was
unbelievable and Serena almost didn't believe it herself. She took out
her needed books and replaced the un-needed ones in her locker almost
unconsciously.
She started to walk away when she bumped into someone. She
tripped back a couple of steps from the impact of the meeting and
looked up to apologize. It was Darien.
"I-I'm so sorry D-Darien. I d-didn't mean to bump into you,"
Serena stuttered. 'What's wrong with me?' She thought, 'I never
stutter.'
Darien smiled and took Serena's hand in his.
"I thought we had a date Serena. Come on, let's go."
They walked through the hall and out the doors hand in hand,
gaining confused and bewildered stares from the onlookers. Serena
didn't like all the attention she was getting and quickened up the
pace.
"What's wrong Serena?" Darien asked when he felt Serena speed up.
"Oh, nothing. I'm just not used to having so much attention,"
Serena reassured Darien. She couldn't tell anyone her real reason why
she didn't want any attention.
"That's okay Serena. I understand. Lets head to my car. Its just
over there,"
When they reached the car Serena gasped. It was a shiny red
convertible. A SHINY NEW red convertible. It was-
Serena had to stop her train of thought again. What was with all
the elaboration over a car?
Darien heard Serena's gasp and knew why. HE smiled to himself.
Andrews plan was working great. Soon, he would be 500 dollars richer
and have his best friend as a personal maid. The thought transformed
Darien's mood. He was happier now. He looked back at Serena and his
spirits downed a little. He didn't want to touch her and yet he had to
walk down the hall holding her hand. It was preposterous. He would put
Andrew on harsh maid duty when this was all over.
Serena's face was unguarded for a moment when she was looking at
the car and Darien intercepted the look. Serena's face was alight with
pure enchantment at the site of his car. He was suddenly drawn to her
eyes. Why had he never noticed them before? Her eyes were beautiful.
They were blue with little specks of turquoise scattered around. They
were very large and shining with delight. Why did she hide her eyes
behind her ugly glasses? She could have at least found a pair of better
frames.
Darien frowned at himself, momentarily shocked and angry at his
thoughts. He was actually complimenting Serena! And yet, he didn't feel
remorse at the fact that he complimented her... He only felt pity but
he didn't know why he felt it.
With a quick shake of his head, Darien got Serena's attention and
motioned for her to get into the car.
Serena stopped. She gasped slightly as she realized why this car
had affected her so. It was the same model of the car that had torn her
soul to pieces. It was Sammy's car. The same as the one that was in
some junkyard for it had been totaled and no longer repairable. Serena
hesitated before she touched the door's handle. She hoped Darien hadn't
noticed.
Darien, however, did notice Serena's hesitation. His lifting of
an inquiring eyebrow went unnoticed by the oblivious Serena. Was there
something wrong with his car? Or was she afraid to touch it for some
twisted reason?
Serena looked at Darien who was unnervingly staring at her. His
eyes pierced hers and Serena felt a strange sensation in her stomach.
At the sound of Darien clearing his throat, Serena forgot about the
weird feeling she had when she saw looked into his eyes. Smiling
sheepishly, a blush forming on her cheeks, Serena got into the car.
The interior of the car was leather. It was totally black and
sleek. It smelled new.
Serena was still staring into oblivion when Darien drove off.
Darien looked toward her intending to break the unsettling silence but
stopped short. Serena's face was once again unguarded and she looked
terribly sad. Her thick glasses surrounded her sorrowful eyes and she
looked vulnerable.
Serena had no clue where they were going. She didn't care. She
just looked forward, not really looking but noticing.
The sky was a mixture of purple and blue and the sun was just low
over the horizon. Stars began to poke out of the sky and the night
looked wonderful. It made her remember the wonderful times she had
before her brother died. But it was no good to think of that. Afraid
that she would spread her somber mood to Darien, Serena turned away
from the scenes.
The car was so quiet. The radio was low and no one made a sound.
Noticing the silence, Serena looked toward Darien to see him staring at
her once again. He seemed not be looking at her but through her. Serena
became wary and perceptively closed herself up again.
"Serena, what's wrong?"
Serena was still in her somber mood and although she had closed
herself up, she still looked sad.
She gave Darien a piercing stare that seeped through his eyes, to
his soul. Only her eyes were unguarded at the moment.
"You should keep your eyes on the road," she said in a monotonous
voice.
Darien, still feeling strange from the impact of her stare, was
obviously baffled. Then, as if suddenly realizing he was still driving
the car, he looked back to the road as if nothing had happened 10
seconds ago.
Serena turned to the passenger side window and began to look out
again. Darien eyed Serena peripherally. Serena eyes were glazed and she
looked on the verge of crying. Instantly concerned, Darien opened his
mouth to ask her if she was all right again but stopped himself. He
didn't really care about her. It didn't matter that she was sad. He
shouldn't have felt anything when she looked at him with those sad and
regretful eyes! But he had. There was no denying that. But, he assured
himself, it was only the kind of concern one felt for anyone who looked
really sad, even if they were the bitchiest person in the world.
Feeling better about his thoughts, Darien smirked.
"Serena, you didn't answer my question," he put as much
convincing as he could to make it sound sincere. Unconsciously, he was
denying the fact that the 'fake enthusiasm' was in reality truly
sincere.
Serena didn't look from the window when she replied in the same
monotonous voice, "Bad things happen to people who don't keep their
eyes on the road," and that was all she had to say to HIM.
Serena was mentally scolding herself. She shouldn't have told him
anything that somehow pertained to herself, even if it was indirectly.
She was giving precious pieces of herself away to some stranger that
she thought was somewhat cute.
Scowling out the window, Serena looked toward Darien. He looked
like he was deep in thought, stray hair elegantly falling forward
covering parts of his face. His eyes were a cerulean blue and had
little flecks of a darker velvety color lining them.
So intent in staring into his eyes, Serena gasped when his eyes
looked toward her. She was momentarily speechless. She quickly turned
away and heard Darien groan in response.
Not daring to look toward him, she tried to focus on anything she
could see out of the window.
Darien stared at Serena. There was something seriously wrong with
her. How could she just look away as if she were afraid of him? Why
couldn't she answer a damn question without all the melodramatics? And
why did her eyes have to look through him instead of at him? Why?
So many questions unanswered. Darien frowned. Why was he so mad
that Serena couldn't look at him straight in the face? It was not as if
he really cared. He shouldn't care that Serena wouldn't look at him and
withheld secrets from him. But there was a nagging sense in the back of
brain that wouldn't stop pestering him.
"Serena, was I so cruel before that you feel you have to be on
the defensive?"
He said it so gently and sincerely, Serena nearly blurted out her
whole family story. At the moment, he seemed like a shoulder she could
lean on and wouldn't be turned away or pushed off.
Serena smiled and slowly moved her gaze from the window to
Darien.
"I really can't answer that Darien. But I thank you for your
concern,"
As they drove further, Serena's defenses moved down notch by
notch until they were soon chatting amiably, laughing, and having, what
Serena's thought, one of the best times of her life since the accident.
Darien didn't understand Serena's need to hide why she was sad
from him. But why was he so concerned? It's not like he really liked
Serena. It was all a prank that would soon be finished and he would be
able to return to his normal life. Darien's stomach churned at the
thought. Why would he like Serena enough to feel pangs of guilt?
Serena was so deep into conversation that she didn't realize that
they reached their destination until he parked the car. Suddenly, the
serene face changed to a face of stark terror and panic.
Instantly alarmed Darien looked toward Serena in silent inquiry.
Serena couldn't seem to catch her breath. 1-2-3 breathe, she
thought. It didn't work. She closed her eyes and silently counted to
ten. When she opened her eyes, the look of terror was barely visible
but the lines of panic remained in full impact. Serena looked toward
Darien and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "D-Darien? Are we at
the Crown Arcade?" the last came out in a rush and he had to lean in
closer to hear her.
Darien's worry quickly faded to amusement and in a mocking voice
he replied, "Yeah, Serena, why?" as if to state the obvious.
If the situation weren't so strange, Darien would have laughed.
Serena smiled up at him with something that was supposed to be
reassuring.
"OH, umm… just nothing. Just wanted to make s-sure." Serena
could feel her fake smile crumbling and she had to fight to keep it up.
Soon, her mouth was trembling from the strain.
Darien eyes Serena, his look suspicious, then seemed to shrug it
off and got out of the car. He walked to Serena's side and opened the
door. Serena seemed to be staring off into oblivion.
Darien cleared his throat. When this didn't work, he cleared his
throat a second time. And a third. Something strange was going on with
Serena was Darien's first thought as he started to put a hand on her
shoulder to get her to get out of the car.
When Serena felt something warm on her shoulder her first thought
was to swat if off. Then she realized that it was someone's hand. She
turned to see Darien staring at her strangely. 'Well' Serena said under
her breath, 'someone's impatient'.
Serena tried to get out of the car but was held back. She tried
again but still she couldn't get out of the car.
At the sound of Darien's laugh, she narrowed her eyes and glared
at him.
"And what, may I ask, is so funny?" she said in an imperious
tone.
Holding back another bout of laugher, Darien held his breath and
tried somewhat unsuccessfully to say, "your seatbelt is still on,"
Serena flushed and looked down to see her seatbelt strapped on.
Quickly, she took it off and jumped from the car, walking briskly from
Darien.
Darien shut the door and ran to catch up with Serena.
Serena turned at the sound of heavy breathing and turned to see
Darien grinning at her. 'And shot by the secret weapon', Serena thought
observing his smile.
"Look, Serena, don't be offended that I laughed at you," he
brought his smile up a notch higher, "It was just so funny,"
Serena tried to look injured but ended up laughing along with
him. As they neared the door of Crown, Darien felt tension flow through
the air. Serena stopped at the door of crown, looking in but not quite
ready to enter.
And as she looked, the memories came pouring through.
~*F*L*A*S*H*B*A*C*K*~
The echo of thunder resounded throughout the arcade. Where is
that dumb jerk? Serena thought to herself as she sat on one the stools
drinking a milkshake. The TV in the corner of the arcade was blaring
loudly and Serena turned her head as she heard an emergency news report
come on.
The reporters were standing in the area that Serena recognized to
be Ringo Street; she passed it every time she went to the arcade. There
was a car in the background and it looked very familiar.
The reporter started talking.
"Three teenagers on their way toward Crown Arcade were killed
just a few moments ago. Lightning appears to have struck the car. Up
impact, the car swerved and crashed into the tree. There were no
survivors. The names of the teens are not yet being released until the
families of the victims are contacted. We'll be back with more
information in a few moments. Now back to you Ken…"
Serena's heart sank to her toes and her stomach was in a
whirlwind of horrible sensations. She could hear nothing as she walked
numbly out of the arcade. She heard people calling her to come back but
she didn't it didn't register in her brain. She didn't realize that she
was running until she felt the strong wind pushing her backward. She
fought through the storm and wouldn't let anything stand in her way.
Serena couldn't seem to breathe as she neared the disaster area.
Her brother couldn't be dead!! Not the same one she threw toast at this
morning. Not The same one who smiled and gave her a mussed her hair
while dragging to the car to drop her off at school.
The tears blinded her. There were ambulances and reporters
surrounding the area. Serena fought through the crowd, ignoring all
protests. She had to see her brother.
She looked around and spotted his body about to be lifted into
the ambulance…
"Wait!!" she called, running furiously toward the ambulance, "I
want to see my brother,"
One of the workers, immediately sympathetic put a hand on her
shoulder.
"He's dead honey. There was nothing we could do,"
Serena looked up at the nice man.
"He was my brother. He was coming to pick me up from the Arcade,"
Serena's voice broke, "he was coming to pick me up,"
And she sobbed into the strangers' arms.
*E*N*D* O*F F*L*A*S*H*B*A*C*K*
Serena didn't realize that tears were falling down her face until
she felt a hand, Darien's hand wipe them away. He was in front of her
now and was staring into her eyes looking at her tenderly.
"What ever is wrong with you Serena, It will be just fine," he
said gently.
It took just that to get to Serena's heart. She realized that she
somewhere between plummeting and love. And with no other than Darien
who had just had a turnaround.
Darien saw the flicker of different emotions in Serena's eyes. He
felt remorse now because he knew that he would really hurt her with
Andrew's prank and he was starting to somewhat care for her. When he
saw her stare at the door and cry, it unnerved him and touched him
deeply and he could only respond the way anyone who confronted with the
same emotions would react.
Serena put her hand in Darien's and leaned on his shoulder. And
that's how they entered the arcade.
She was in an almost dazed state. Darien wanted to talk to HER. It was
unbelievable and Serena almost didn't believe it herself. She took out
her needed books and replaced the un-needed ones in her locker almost
unconsciously.
She started to walk away when she bumped into someone. She
tripped back a couple of steps from the impact of the meeting and
looked up to apologize. It was Darien.
"I-I'm so sorry D-Darien. I d-didn't mean to bump into you,"
Serena stuttered. 'What's wrong with me?' She thought, 'I never
stutter.'
Darien smiled and took Serena's hand in his.
"I thought we had a date Serena. Come on, let's go."
They walked through the hall and out the doors hand in hand,
gaining confused and bewildered stares from the onlookers. Serena
didn't like all the attention she was getting and quickened up the
pace.
"What's wrong Serena?" Darien asked when he felt Serena speed up.
"Oh, nothing. I'm just not used to having so much attention,"
Serena reassured Darien. She couldn't tell anyone her real reason why
she didn't want any attention.
"That's okay Serena. I understand. Lets head to my car. Its just
over there,"
When they reached the car Serena gasped. It was a shiny red
convertible. A SHINY NEW red convertible. It was-
Serena had to stop her train of thought again. What was with all
the elaboration over a car?
Darien heard Serena's gasp and knew why. HE smiled to himself.
Andrews plan was working great. Soon, he would be 500 dollars richer
and have his best friend as a personal maid. The thought transformed
Darien's mood. He was happier now. He looked back at Serena and his
spirits downed a little. He didn't want to touch her and yet he had to
walk down the hall holding her hand. It was preposterous. He would put
Andrew on harsh maid duty when this was all over.
Serena's face was unguarded for a moment when she was looking at
the car and Darien intercepted the look. Serena's face was alight with
pure enchantment at the site of his car. He was suddenly drawn to her
eyes. Why had he never noticed them before? Her eyes were beautiful.
They were blue with little specks of turquoise scattered around. They
were very large and shining with delight. Why did she hide her eyes
behind her ugly glasses? She could have at least found a pair of better
frames.
Darien frowned at himself, momentarily shocked and angry at his
thoughts. He was actually complimenting Serena! And yet, he didn't feel
remorse at the fact that he complimented her... He only felt pity but
he didn't know why he felt it.
With a quick shake of his head, Darien got Serena's attention and
motioned for her to get into the car.
Serena stopped. She gasped slightly as she realized why this car
had affected her so. It was the same model of the car that had torn her
soul to pieces. It was Sammy's car. The same as the one that was in
some junkyard for it had been totaled and no longer repairable. Serena
hesitated before she touched the door's handle. She hoped Darien hadn't
noticed.
Darien, however, did notice Serena's hesitation. His lifting of
an inquiring eyebrow went unnoticed by the oblivious Serena. Was there
something wrong with his car? Or was she afraid to touch it for some
twisted reason?
Serena looked at Darien who was unnervingly staring at her. His
eyes pierced hers and Serena felt a strange sensation in her stomach.
At the sound of Darien clearing his throat, Serena forgot about the
weird feeling she had when she saw looked into his eyes. Smiling
sheepishly, a blush forming on her cheeks, Serena got into the car.
The interior of the car was leather. It was totally black and
sleek. It smelled new.
Serena was still staring into oblivion when Darien drove off.
Darien looked toward her intending to break the unsettling silence but
stopped short. Serena's face was once again unguarded and she looked
terribly sad. Her thick glasses surrounded her sorrowful eyes and she
looked vulnerable.
Serena had no clue where they were going. She didn't care. She
just looked forward, not really looking but noticing.
The sky was a mixture of purple and blue and the sun was just low
over the horizon. Stars began to poke out of the sky and the night
looked wonderful. It made her remember the wonderful times she had
before her brother died. But it was no good to think of that. Afraid
that she would spread her somber mood to Darien, Serena turned away
from the scenes.
The car was so quiet. The radio was low and no one made a sound.
Noticing the silence, Serena looked toward Darien to see him staring at
her once again. He seemed not be looking at her but through her. Serena
became wary and perceptively closed herself up again.
"Serena, what's wrong?"
Serena was still in her somber mood and although she had closed
herself up, she still looked sad.
She gave Darien a piercing stare that seeped through his eyes, to
his soul. Only her eyes were unguarded at the moment.
"You should keep your eyes on the road," she said in a monotonous
voice.
Darien, still feeling strange from the impact of her stare, was
obviously baffled. Then, as if suddenly realizing he was still driving
the car, he looked back to the road as if nothing had happened 10
seconds ago.
Serena turned to the passenger side window and began to look out
again. Darien eyed Serena peripherally. Serena eyes were glazed and she
looked on the verge of crying. Instantly concerned, Darien opened his
mouth to ask her if she was all right again but stopped himself. He
didn't really care about her. It didn't matter that she was sad. He
shouldn't have felt anything when she looked at him with those sad and
regretful eyes! But he had. There was no denying that. But, he assured
himself, it was only the kind of concern one felt for anyone who looked
really sad, even if they were the bitchiest person in the world.
Feeling better about his thoughts, Darien smirked.
"Serena, you didn't answer my question," he put as much
convincing as he could to make it sound sincere. Unconsciously, he was
denying the fact that the 'fake enthusiasm' was in reality truly
sincere.
Serena didn't look from the window when she replied in the same
monotonous voice, "Bad things happen to people who don't keep their
eyes on the road," and that was all she had to say to HIM.
Serena was mentally scolding herself. She shouldn't have told him
anything that somehow pertained to herself, even if it was indirectly.
She was giving precious pieces of herself away to some stranger that
she thought was somewhat cute.
Scowling out the window, Serena looked toward Darien. He looked
like he was deep in thought, stray hair elegantly falling forward
covering parts of his face. His eyes were a cerulean blue and had
little flecks of a darker velvety color lining them.
So intent in staring into his eyes, Serena gasped when his eyes
looked toward her. She was momentarily speechless. She quickly turned
away and heard Darien groan in response.
Not daring to look toward him, she tried to focus on anything she
could see out of the window.
Darien stared at Serena. There was something seriously wrong with
her. How could she just look away as if she were afraid of him? Why
couldn't she answer a damn question without all the melodramatics? And
why did her eyes have to look through him instead of at him? Why?
So many questions unanswered. Darien frowned. Why was he so mad
that Serena couldn't look at him straight in the face? It was not as if
he really cared. He shouldn't care that Serena wouldn't look at him and
withheld secrets from him. But there was a nagging sense in the back of
brain that wouldn't stop pestering him.
"Serena, was I so cruel before that you feel you have to be on
the defensive?"
He said it so gently and sincerely, Serena nearly blurted out her
whole family story. At the moment, he seemed like a shoulder she could
lean on and wouldn't be turned away or pushed off.
Serena smiled and slowly moved her gaze from the window to
Darien.
"I really can't answer that Darien. But I thank you for your
concern,"
As they drove further, Serena's defenses moved down notch by
notch until they were soon chatting amiably, laughing, and having, what
Serena's thought, one of the best times of her life since the accident.
Darien didn't understand Serena's need to hide why she was sad
from him. But why was he so concerned? It's not like he really liked
Serena. It was all a prank that would soon be finished and he would be
able to return to his normal life. Darien's stomach churned at the
thought. Why would he like Serena enough to feel pangs of guilt?
Serena was so deep into conversation that she didn't realize that
they reached their destination until he parked the car. Suddenly, the
serene face changed to a face of stark terror and panic.
Instantly alarmed Darien looked toward Serena in silent inquiry.
Serena couldn't seem to catch her breath. 1-2-3 breathe, she
thought. It didn't work. She closed her eyes and silently counted to
ten. When she opened her eyes, the look of terror was barely visible
but the lines of panic remained in full impact. Serena looked toward
Darien and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "D-Darien? Are we at
the Crown Arcade?" the last came out in a rush and he had to lean in
closer to hear her.
Darien's worry quickly faded to amusement and in a mocking voice
he replied, "Yeah, Serena, why?" as if to state the obvious.
If the situation weren't so strange, Darien would have laughed.
Serena smiled up at him with something that was supposed to be
reassuring.
"OH, umm… just nothing. Just wanted to make s-sure." Serena
could feel her fake smile crumbling and she had to fight to keep it up.
Soon, her mouth was trembling from the strain.
Darien eyes Serena, his look suspicious, then seemed to shrug it
off and got out of the car. He walked to Serena's side and opened the
door. Serena seemed to be staring off into oblivion.
Darien cleared his throat. When this didn't work, he cleared his
throat a second time. And a third. Something strange was going on with
Serena was Darien's first thought as he started to put a hand on her
shoulder to get her to get out of the car.
When Serena felt something warm on her shoulder her first thought
was to swat if off. Then she realized that it was someone's hand. She
turned to see Darien staring at her strangely. 'Well' Serena said under
her breath, 'someone's impatient'.
Serena tried to get out of the car but was held back. She tried
again but still she couldn't get out of the car.
At the sound of Darien's laugh, she narrowed her eyes and glared
at him.
"And what, may I ask, is so funny?" she said in an imperious
tone.
Holding back another bout of laugher, Darien held his breath and
tried somewhat unsuccessfully to say, "your seatbelt is still on,"
Serena flushed and looked down to see her seatbelt strapped on.
Quickly, she took it off and jumped from the car, walking briskly from
Darien.
Darien shut the door and ran to catch up with Serena.
Serena turned at the sound of heavy breathing and turned to see
Darien grinning at her. 'And shot by the secret weapon', Serena thought
observing his smile.
"Look, Serena, don't be offended that I laughed at you," he
brought his smile up a notch higher, "It was just so funny,"
Serena tried to look injured but ended up laughing along with
him. As they neared the door of Crown, Darien felt tension flow through
the air. Serena stopped at the door of crown, looking in but not quite
ready to enter.
And as she looked, the memories came pouring through.
~*F*L*A*S*H*B*A*C*K*~
The echo of thunder resounded throughout the arcade. Where is
that dumb jerk? Serena thought to herself as she sat on one the stools
drinking a milkshake. The TV in the corner of the arcade was blaring
loudly and Serena turned her head as she heard an emergency news report
come on.
The reporters were standing in the area that Serena recognized to
be Ringo Street; she passed it every time she went to the arcade. There
was a car in the background and it looked very familiar.
The reporter started talking.
"Three teenagers on their way toward Crown Arcade were killed
just a few moments ago. Lightning appears to have struck the car. Up
impact, the car swerved and crashed into the tree. There were no
survivors. The names of the teens are not yet being released until the
families of the victims are contacted. We'll be back with more
information in a few moments. Now back to you Ken…"
Serena's heart sank to her toes and her stomach was in a
whirlwind of horrible sensations. She could hear nothing as she walked
numbly out of the arcade. She heard people calling her to come back but
she didn't it didn't register in her brain. She didn't realize that she
was running until she felt the strong wind pushing her backward. She
fought through the storm and wouldn't let anything stand in her way.
Serena couldn't seem to breathe as she neared the disaster area.
Her brother couldn't be dead!! Not the same one she threw toast at this
morning. Not The same one who smiled and gave her a mussed her hair
while dragging to the car to drop her off at school.
The tears blinded her. There were ambulances and reporters
surrounding the area. Serena fought through the crowd, ignoring all
protests. She had to see her brother.
She looked around and spotted his body about to be lifted into
the ambulance…
"Wait!!" she called, running furiously toward the ambulance, "I
want to see my brother,"
One of the workers, immediately sympathetic put a hand on her
shoulder.
"He's dead honey. There was nothing we could do,"
Serena looked up at the nice man.
"He was my brother. He was coming to pick me up from the Arcade,"
Serena's voice broke, "he was coming to pick me up,"
And she sobbed into the strangers' arms.
*E*N*D* O*F F*L*A*S*H*B*A*C*K*
Serena didn't realize that tears were falling down her face until
she felt a hand, Darien's hand wipe them away. He was in front of her
now and was staring into her eyes looking at her tenderly.
"What ever is wrong with you Serena, It will be just fine," he
said gently.
It took just that to get to Serena's heart. She realized that she
somewhere between plummeting and love. And with no other than Darien
who had just had a turnaround.
Darien saw the flicker of different emotions in Serena's eyes. He
felt remorse now because he knew that he would really hurt her with
Andrew's prank and he was starting to somewhat care for her. When he
saw her stare at the door and cry, it unnerved him and touched him
deeply and he could only respond the way anyone who confronted with the
same emotions would react.
Serena put her hand in Darien's and leaned on his shoulder. And
that's how they entered the arcade.