Chapter 2

"Hey, Darien," said Serena as she slipped on a pair of jeans. "My family has a country house that we could stay at."

"Why did you just mention that?" asked Darien, dressed in a pair of black slacks with a black turtleneck on.

"I don't know," she said slipping on a black long sleeved shirt. "It's just my favorite place to go when I want to relax, I guess."

Darien smiled. "How about we stay out there for a little while?" he suggested.

"Are you sure, Darien?" asked Serena. "I know that I'm just another responsibility for you."

"Oh, meatball head," he said wrapping his arms around her. "You're not a responsibility for me. I love you and it's my duty to take care of you."

"I'm glad," she said pulling back from him with a smile. "How should I do my hair?"

"You'll think of something, Serena. You always do," he said. "I'm going to make a call, so I'll be in the living room."

"Okay," Serena said as he closed the bedroom door. "I know how I'll do my hair."

Serena removed the meatballs from her hair and shook her head. The long strands of silk blond hair unraveled and showed their true length. Her hair just barely touched the floor. A smile spread across Serena's face as she French braided her hair. At the end, she tied the braid with an elastic band. Her hair now reached the middle of her calves.

"This is such a cute look," said Serena. "I don't know why I didn't do this sooner."

Serena walked into the living room and found Darien still on the phone. She stood beside the window and looked outside. The streets were full of cars going places and the sidewalks were packed with people going in and out of stores. Darien hung up the phone and joined his future wife at the window.

"What are you thinking?" he asked her.

"Nothing," she said. "Just looking at the world."

"Well shall we get going?" he asked. "I really want to see this country house of your families."

"You mean it, Darien," she said.

"Of course," he said.

Serena's face brightened as they gathered some of their cloths and packed the trunk of Darien's car. They hoped in and Darien started up the car.

"Do you have the keys?" he asked Serena.

"No," she said. "But I do need a few things from the house."

"Okay," he said as they drove down the road towards Serena's house.

"I do hope Serena's okay," Amy said as she, Mina, and Lita walked down the street towards the Campbell house.

"Maybe we should have listened to what she had to say last night before giving her the cold shoulder," said Mina.

"We were all hurting and it was expected," said Lita.

"Well here we are," Mina said as they walked up to the front door.

Lita knocked on the door and they waited. On the other side of the door they heard a hurry of footsteps. The door opened and there stood Mrs. Campbell. She had a large smile on her face when she saw the three girls.

"Oh hello girls," said Mrs. Campbell.

"Hello," said Mina in a cheerful voice. "Is Serena home?"

"No I'm sorry," she said. "She left about five minutes ago."

"Left?" asked Lita.

"Where to?" asked Mina.

"She's gone to the country for a little while to relax. She deserves it too with all of the stress she's been under for the past several months," Mrs. Campbell said.

"What kind of stress?" asked Lita.

"Well there's all of the school work and the exams," Mrs. Campbell said. "Then there's the cold she's had on and off for a few months now."

"What kind of cold?" asked Amy. She would know what was wrong with anyone just by the symptoms.

"Hardly any appetite, paleness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness," said Mrs. Campbell.

"Oh my," said Amy. "When will she return?"

"She didn't say when she would be back," Mrs. Campbell explained. "But when she does I hope she's better."

"Do you know how we can get a hold of her?" asked Amy.

"Well here's the phone number," Mrs. Campbell said handing Amy a piece of paper with a phone number on it.

"Thank you, Mrs. Campbell," said Lita as they left.

"I hope you girls have a nice day," she said closing the door as they walked towards the street.

"Ah man," said Lita. "I wish we could have caught her before she left."

"Hey, I wonder who's taking her up there?" questioned Mina.

"Probably her father, I suppose," answered Amy as they walked down the road. "He's the only one who has a car that knows where the country house is."

"Yeah but Serena also knows where the house is," said Lita. "So she could have anyone taking her up there."

The girls continued to talk until they reached Crown Arcade. When they entered the arcade, Andrew approached them.

"Hey guys," he said.

"Oh hi, Andrew," said Mina.

"Hi, Andrew," said Lita.

"Have you guys seen Darien?" he asked. "I've been trying to call him for about half an hour."

"We saw him last night," said Mina.

"Did you try his cell phone?" suggested Amy.

"No, good idea, Amy," Andrew said. "Thanks."

"Your welcome," she said.

Ding. The door opened and in stepped Darien. "Hey, guys," he said.

"Darien," said Andrew. "I was just about to call you."

"Oh, why?" asked Darien.

"Remember what you asked me to get for you?" said Andrew picking up two packages the size of your arm. "Well I got it."

"Ah good," Darien said taking them. "These will be well needed."

"I'm glad," said Andrew.

"Hey, Andrew, I'm going out of town on some business," said Darien. "Do you think you can keep an eye on my place while I'm gone?"

"Sure," he said as Darien gave him a key.

"Thanks," Darien said as he left. "See you ladies later."

"So where's Serena today?" asked Andrew. "She's usually here."

"She went out of town for a little while," said Mina.

Amy and Lita looked at each other and then at Darien as he climbed into his car. There sitting in the passenger seat was a young woman with long blond hair in a braid. She was reading a book as Darien spoke to her.

They hurried outside and walked up to the black car as it was pulling away. "Darn it," said Lita.

"Who was that?" asked Amy.

"I don't know," said Lita.

"Hey you guys," squawked Mina. "Why did you guys leave me?"

"There was a blond young lady in Darien's car," said Lita.

"What?! Darien's cheating on Serena?" spat Mina. "How dare he!"