An Everly Table
Chapter Two
By A Shot of Amber
Please remember to read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!
An Everly Tale Chapter Two
He watched him bounce the ball once then twice on the ground. His arm tightened up, fingers holding onto the handle as his opponent bounced the ball one last time on the ground then swung forward and hit it.
Darien stepped back and swung his racket hitting the small green ball as it sailed over the net onto his side. The ball and the racket connected for one moment then separated as the ball sailed back over the net onto his opponents side where it flew past and hit the fence.
"Score! I win!" Darien pumped his fist in the air then stepped forward over to the net.
His opponent grinned and walked up to Darien. "Your quite a player, I surely thought I had you beat." He held out his hand to Darien.
"Yea right Andrew, you knew I was going to beat you," Darien replied taking Andrew's hand in his own and shaking it firmly before he let go and wiped the sweat away from his eyes. "Whew! I'm boiling up."
"So I guess your to hot to go take a dip in the pool? I know I need one," Andrew replied good-naturedly.
"Never, I'm never to hot to go swimming. I'll race you there." Darien dropped his racket on the ground and took off, laughing at Andrew who was protesting the unfairness of the situation.
Darien just laughed and continued to run. It felt good to stretch his muscles after a long hour of playing tennis. Especially after all the pain he had gone through last night.
Darien wrinkled his nose as he remember the dinner party his mother had held in honor for him. There had been at least thirty eligible young womyn there, all around his age, all of royal decree, and all boring.
Darien turned his head to see if Andrew was following him, he was. Darien laughed out loud and ran even faster.
The dinner had been torture. All the ladies were sparkling in their glittery best decked out in their royal jewels while they giggled and asked him of his many accomplishments. "Oh Sir Endymion I heard that you are the most excellent squash player, perhaps you show me some time." "Oh Sir Endymion, your mother was just telling me that you loved children! That's so nice since I love them too!"
Darien ran through the gate into the pool area and pulled off his shirt before diving in. Last night had been awful with all those ladies simpering and flirting over him. He had been forced to bow to each one just like the prince in Cinderella. He had endlessly bowed with one hand on his ascot while he gamely smiled at each lady in turn. The thing was that they were not ugly, in fact many of these ladies were very beautiful and Darien would have never mind sleeping with them, if it was only for sex, but it wasn't. Marriage was forever and Darien could not see himself waking up to the same body every morning for the rest of his life.
"Darien you run to fast!" Andrew gasped as he ran into the pool area and collapsed onto a deck chair.
"Or maybe you run to slow. You know it wouldn't hurt to get some exercise once in awhile Andrew," Darien replied has he swam up to the side of the pool.
"I play tennis with you every morning and swim with you almost every afternoon, how much more exercise would I need?" Andrew placed his hand over his heart to still its frantic beating and leaned back in the chair. " Who knew one game of tennis could be so harsh."
Darien laughed and dived underneath the water again. He swam the length of the pool then came back for air to find Andrew still in the same position. "Why don't you cool off in the pool? We can have a race to see who gets to the other end first."
"No thanks," Andrew shook his head and sat up. "I'm done with racing you."
"Wuss," Darien pretended to pout.
"I wouldn't call me a wuss when you're the real one," Andrew replied coyly.
"What do you mean by that?" Darien asked immediately getting suspicious.
"I mean that you don't even have the guts to tell your mother that you have no plans to get married."
Darien crossed his arms on the pool deck and slightly raised his body out of the water. "I'll tell her someday. Its just that she puts so much heart into me getting married and having children."
"She wants the family generation to go on. She's looking for a heir," Andrew replied solemnly.
"I think its more then that. Ever since father died she's been anxious for me to get fall in love and have a marriage that was happy as her own."
"The king and the queen did have a happy marriage."
"And so mother wants the same for me. And in order to accomplish that she pushes every available girl of royal decree in my face hoping I fall in love with one of them."
"Obviously the queen doesn't understand that that way doesn't that work."
"I'll know when I find that girl. It will just hit me like bam," Darien demonstrated by hitting his fist on the pool deck," lightning and in that moment I will know that that is the girl for me."
* * * * * * *
Serena closed the door behind her and skipped down the steps onto the sidewalk.
She had been in Basalt for exactly two weeks now and was starting to really like it. Her job at the newspaper was going great. She had a million ideas for her column which was getting good hype. Her boss Helen had told her on the first week that a lot of people were responding positively to her column. Secretly Serena was very pleased by this. She had hoped that she would please Helen.
Helen was in her mid thirties with long auburn hair that fell to mid back. She was a tall domineering presence in the news room. Serena was awestruck by her new boss but aiming to please. Six days a week she went into the news room and wrote out a column worthy of Helen's praise. On Sundays she was off and able to do whatever she pleased. Today was no different.
Serena walked past the small café where Lita worked. She loved it but today she was headed for a different place. A slightly larger café just down the street from her house that was still in the center of town. Serena was hoping to get some ideas for her column while she had lunch by herself. She could have invited Mina or Lita but Lita was busy with work and Mina was out somewhere that day and personally Serena felt she needed some time away from the two.
In her time being in Basalt they had gone out to dinner, lunch, and breakfast together along with going shopping and even to the clubs in the bigger city of St. Charles. Mina and Lita had both decided that Serena needed a boyfriend. When she had revealed that she had never had a serious boyfriend before the two girls decided that they would devote their free time to finding her one. Already Serena had gone on three blind dates set up by Mina and Lita. The first one Tony was a waiter at the café where Lita worked. He had the same kind of black hair as that American singer Elvis and none of the charm. The second one named Rob was something close to a mean drunk. On the first night he had blatantly invited himself to her apartment and asked her if she was interested in a romantic night with him. Serena had left the restaurant right after that and walked the whole way home fuming mad. The third one Gary had been really nice except he had one little problem, he was married, actually in the middle of a messy divorce brought on by the fact that his wife was seeing another man. When it came to love Serena was not a main player in the field.
Serena sighed and adjusted her sunglasses on her nose as the café came into sight. She had to admit that she was lonely for male company but it wasn't going to come in the form of blind dates. Instead she needed to find a man for herself, and even if it took time she would find someone, someday.
"Just one today for lunch?" The waiter standing behind the podium asked her picking up a menu.
"Yes please. For the outdoor café," Serena replied.
"Follow me," he tucked the menu underneath his arm and led her through a maze of tables to one underneath a sky blue umbrella.
Serena took a seat and set her bag on the ground next to her. She took the menu from the waiter and smiled up at him as he turned and walked away. Serena scanned the area around her. It was slightly empty with a few couples sitting nearer to the door and a rather handsome looking man wearing sunglasses and reading a book sitting closer to her. Serena let her eyes rest on him a moment before she turned back to the menu and begin to scan her choices.
* * * * * * *
Darien noticed her right away. He had never seen a girl with so much hair before. It was long and blond and pulled up into the strangest hair do.
' Like spaghetti and meatballs,' he thought to himself.
She was a pretty thing with a thin waist and good sized breasts. Two things he liked in womyn. She sat down at a table near him he noticed and proceeded to look around. He was staring at his book when her eyes fell on him. He could feel her gaze for a longer time then she had looked at the others in the restaurant before she turned back to her menu.
Darien looked up from his book again, she had removed her sunglasses. He could see large blue eyes starred by thick dark eyelashes. He could feel his breath catch in his throat. Boy was she pretty. Maybe if he played his cards right he could land her in his bed.
"Your food sir," a waitress wearing a tight white blouse set down his lunch and walked off.
"Or maybe I'll wait till after lunch," Darien replied to himself as he picked up his fork.
Serena set down the fork on her plate and pushed it away from her. That had been a very good lunch. She had had the chicken salad and could safely say it was delicious. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the dark haired guy was still there sitting at his table with a relaxed manner still reading the same book. Serena smiled, he was really cute with that thoughtful expression on his face. She reached down for her purse to pull out her wallet. Her hand slipped inside the bag and came out empty. Suddenly her blood froze in her veins as she groped around through her purse and still came up empty. Serena opened the bag wider and searched even more but she still came up empty.
Serena sat back in her chair and dropped her head back. What was she going to do? She didn't have any money to pay for lunch! Blindly thinking that she could go and get money from her house Serena stood up and headed towards the exit.
"Excuse me miss where are you going?" The waiter's voice sounded very snooty and cold as he stepped in front of her and blocked her exit.
"I'm so sorry but I forgot my wallet and I was just going to get it from my apartment then I was going to come straight back, honest I was," Serena replied holding her bag up to show that it was empty.
"Well this is an unfortunate mistake," the waiter replied putting his hands behind his back and rocking slightly on his feet.
"I know and I'm so sorry but if you just let me pass I promise I'll come right back with the money," Serena babbled on as she tried to get past but the waiter stopped her by blocking her way again
. "I'm afraid that's not possible," he picked up a dirty dish from the table next to him. "Instead if you just want to follow me to the kitchen I'm sure they would love some help with washing these."
"What you want me to wash dishes!" Serena cried looking shocked.
"I don't think you have much of a choice."
"Yes she does. I'll pay for her."
Serena turned around to see the dark haired guy standing behind her pulling some money out of his wallet. "How much is her bill?"
"Eight euros," the waiter replied sounding slightly shocked and maybe a little disappointed.
"Alright here's the money for her lunch and mine." He handed the waited a small wad of bills then took Serena's elbow and led her out of the restaurant.
Serena was in shock and only able to follow him lamely down the street. She looked up at her savior, he was wearing a pair of blue jeans and black button up shirt with long sleeves. Closer up she could see that the sunglasses he wore were actually quite expensive and that his hair fell into bangs over his forehead.
"I can't believe you actually forgot your wallet. How old are you?"
"It's a common mistake," Serena replied wrenching her elbow out of his hand and stopping on the street corner.
Darien turned around and looked at her. "Well I guess only a meatball head like you would actually perform such a common mistake and forget her wallet."
"Meatball head? That's a very nice name to call me," Serena replied sarcastically.
Darien groaned and ran his hands through his hair. This was not going well, if he was going to ask this girl out then he better think of a better way then insulting her.
"Look I'm sorry I called you that name. Instead lets start over, "he held out his hand," my name is Darien and I would be charmed to have yours."
Serena looked down at the offered hand and felt the anger drain out of her. She took his hand in her own and shook it firmly. "My name is Serena."
"Don't you have a last name Miss Serena?"
Serena laughed and let go of his hand. "I tell you mine if you tell me yours."
For some reason Darien grimaced. "Its Shields," he replied after a short pause.
Serena personally wondered why he paused before giving her his name but decided to ignore it. "Mine is Tuskino."
"Tuskino? Is that Chinese?"
"No Japanese."
"Yea Japanese, that's what I said," he replied.
Serena raised an eyebrow then burst out laughing. Darien smiled down at her from his height. He knew he was going to like her.
"So if you finished with lunch maybe you would like to get some coffee with me?"
Serena stopped laughing. "I would love to but I still haven't paid you back and I don't have money on me."
"That's okay I'm loaded and I won't take no for answer and lets just think of it as for you paying me back for lunch."
Serena sighed and shook her head. "I don't call that a fair deal, but alright." She smiled up at him. "You lead the way."
"Wonderful!" We'll go to this small place I know called Starbucks, they have a great cappuccino."
"Starbucks? I thought you were going to take me to a quaint little coffee place that is only in this city. They even have a Starbucks or thirty in Tokyo," Serena replied wrinkling her nose.
"Yes well here in this city we have one Starbucks and no coffee shops. No one can ever compete with Starbucks."
Serena laughed and shook her head. "Lead the way and I'll follow."
Darien smiled and held out his elbow for her quite like a prince would do for his lady. Serena slipped her arm through and followed him down the street past the café where the waiter was watching them closely. He breathed a sigh of relief when they walked past without even looking at him.
"So what line of work are you in?" Serena asked a little while later. They sat inside the Starbucks Café in squashy soft armchairs next to each other.
"I'm currently unemployed right now," Darien replied taking a swig of his cappuccino.
"Really? Isn't that a little tough to live on? Not having a job I mean."
"Actually no it's not. I live with my mother so she pays for everything and gives me an allowance like the good boy I am."
Serena laughed and shook her head. "Well I wish I was that lucky to be unemployed and have a mother to pay for everything. No," she shook her head," instead I work at the local newspaper. I'm a columnist. Have you ever read the Local Inc?"
"No, I find that all that fashion advice is a little boring for me," Darien replied.
"Well I write all that boring junk."
"Great! Make me feel like a giant fool," Darien sighed.
Serena just laughed and placed her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to. I can understand that you don't read my column. Not a lot of men do."
Darien didn't reply but instead looked down at her hand on his arm. She had a small white hand with a silver ring on her second finger with a garnet setting.
Serena noticed he was looking down at her hand and quickly blushed and moved it away. Perhaps he didn't want her touching him. "I'm sorry I didn't mean too...I mean..."
"Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"
"What?" Serena looked up at him to see that he was staring right into her blue eyes with his own.
"I'm free tomorrow night and I know this great Chinese place and I was wondering if you wanted to go there with me tomorrow night," Darien replied.
"I would love to," Serena breathed happily. He had asked her out!
"Wonderful, I'll pick you up at your place at seven, dress to impress."
"Right." Serena nodded then turned away from him slightly as she wrapped her hands around her coffee cup and smiled. Perhaps she had finally found someone in Basalt.
Please remember to read and review or send all comments, questions, and suggestions to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you.
Please remember to read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!
An Everly Tale Chapter Two
He watched him bounce the ball once then twice on the ground. His arm tightened up, fingers holding onto the handle as his opponent bounced the ball one last time on the ground then swung forward and hit it.
Darien stepped back and swung his racket hitting the small green ball as it sailed over the net onto his side. The ball and the racket connected for one moment then separated as the ball sailed back over the net onto his opponents side where it flew past and hit the fence.
"Score! I win!" Darien pumped his fist in the air then stepped forward over to the net.
His opponent grinned and walked up to Darien. "Your quite a player, I surely thought I had you beat." He held out his hand to Darien.
"Yea right Andrew, you knew I was going to beat you," Darien replied taking Andrew's hand in his own and shaking it firmly before he let go and wiped the sweat away from his eyes. "Whew! I'm boiling up."
"So I guess your to hot to go take a dip in the pool? I know I need one," Andrew replied good-naturedly.
"Never, I'm never to hot to go swimming. I'll race you there." Darien dropped his racket on the ground and took off, laughing at Andrew who was protesting the unfairness of the situation.
Darien just laughed and continued to run. It felt good to stretch his muscles after a long hour of playing tennis. Especially after all the pain he had gone through last night.
Darien wrinkled his nose as he remember the dinner party his mother had held in honor for him. There had been at least thirty eligible young womyn there, all around his age, all of royal decree, and all boring.
Darien turned his head to see if Andrew was following him, he was. Darien laughed out loud and ran even faster.
The dinner had been torture. All the ladies were sparkling in their glittery best decked out in their royal jewels while they giggled and asked him of his many accomplishments. "Oh Sir Endymion I heard that you are the most excellent squash player, perhaps you show me some time." "Oh Sir Endymion, your mother was just telling me that you loved children! That's so nice since I love them too!"
Darien ran through the gate into the pool area and pulled off his shirt before diving in. Last night had been awful with all those ladies simpering and flirting over him. He had been forced to bow to each one just like the prince in Cinderella. He had endlessly bowed with one hand on his ascot while he gamely smiled at each lady in turn. The thing was that they were not ugly, in fact many of these ladies were very beautiful and Darien would have never mind sleeping with them, if it was only for sex, but it wasn't. Marriage was forever and Darien could not see himself waking up to the same body every morning for the rest of his life.
"Darien you run to fast!" Andrew gasped as he ran into the pool area and collapsed onto a deck chair.
"Or maybe you run to slow. You know it wouldn't hurt to get some exercise once in awhile Andrew," Darien replied has he swam up to the side of the pool.
"I play tennis with you every morning and swim with you almost every afternoon, how much more exercise would I need?" Andrew placed his hand over his heart to still its frantic beating and leaned back in the chair. " Who knew one game of tennis could be so harsh."
Darien laughed and dived underneath the water again. He swam the length of the pool then came back for air to find Andrew still in the same position. "Why don't you cool off in the pool? We can have a race to see who gets to the other end first."
"No thanks," Andrew shook his head and sat up. "I'm done with racing you."
"Wuss," Darien pretended to pout.
"I wouldn't call me a wuss when you're the real one," Andrew replied coyly.
"What do you mean by that?" Darien asked immediately getting suspicious.
"I mean that you don't even have the guts to tell your mother that you have no plans to get married."
Darien crossed his arms on the pool deck and slightly raised his body out of the water. "I'll tell her someday. Its just that she puts so much heart into me getting married and having children."
"She wants the family generation to go on. She's looking for a heir," Andrew replied solemnly.
"I think its more then that. Ever since father died she's been anxious for me to get fall in love and have a marriage that was happy as her own."
"The king and the queen did have a happy marriage."
"And so mother wants the same for me. And in order to accomplish that she pushes every available girl of royal decree in my face hoping I fall in love with one of them."
"Obviously the queen doesn't understand that that way doesn't that work."
"I'll know when I find that girl. It will just hit me like bam," Darien demonstrated by hitting his fist on the pool deck," lightning and in that moment I will know that that is the girl for me."
* * * * * * *
Serena closed the door behind her and skipped down the steps onto the sidewalk.
She had been in Basalt for exactly two weeks now and was starting to really like it. Her job at the newspaper was going great. She had a million ideas for her column which was getting good hype. Her boss Helen had told her on the first week that a lot of people were responding positively to her column. Secretly Serena was very pleased by this. She had hoped that she would please Helen.
Helen was in her mid thirties with long auburn hair that fell to mid back. She was a tall domineering presence in the news room. Serena was awestruck by her new boss but aiming to please. Six days a week she went into the news room and wrote out a column worthy of Helen's praise. On Sundays she was off and able to do whatever she pleased. Today was no different.
Serena walked past the small café where Lita worked. She loved it but today she was headed for a different place. A slightly larger café just down the street from her house that was still in the center of town. Serena was hoping to get some ideas for her column while she had lunch by herself. She could have invited Mina or Lita but Lita was busy with work and Mina was out somewhere that day and personally Serena felt she needed some time away from the two.
In her time being in Basalt they had gone out to dinner, lunch, and breakfast together along with going shopping and even to the clubs in the bigger city of St. Charles. Mina and Lita had both decided that Serena needed a boyfriend. When she had revealed that she had never had a serious boyfriend before the two girls decided that they would devote their free time to finding her one. Already Serena had gone on three blind dates set up by Mina and Lita. The first one Tony was a waiter at the café where Lita worked. He had the same kind of black hair as that American singer Elvis and none of the charm. The second one named Rob was something close to a mean drunk. On the first night he had blatantly invited himself to her apartment and asked her if she was interested in a romantic night with him. Serena had left the restaurant right after that and walked the whole way home fuming mad. The third one Gary had been really nice except he had one little problem, he was married, actually in the middle of a messy divorce brought on by the fact that his wife was seeing another man. When it came to love Serena was not a main player in the field.
Serena sighed and adjusted her sunglasses on her nose as the café came into sight. She had to admit that she was lonely for male company but it wasn't going to come in the form of blind dates. Instead she needed to find a man for herself, and even if it took time she would find someone, someday.
"Just one today for lunch?" The waiter standing behind the podium asked her picking up a menu.
"Yes please. For the outdoor café," Serena replied.
"Follow me," he tucked the menu underneath his arm and led her through a maze of tables to one underneath a sky blue umbrella.
Serena took a seat and set her bag on the ground next to her. She took the menu from the waiter and smiled up at him as he turned and walked away. Serena scanned the area around her. It was slightly empty with a few couples sitting nearer to the door and a rather handsome looking man wearing sunglasses and reading a book sitting closer to her. Serena let her eyes rest on him a moment before she turned back to the menu and begin to scan her choices.
* * * * * * *
Darien noticed her right away. He had never seen a girl with so much hair before. It was long and blond and pulled up into the strangest hair do.
' Like spaghetti and meatballs,' he thought to himself.
She was a pretty thing with a thin waist and good sized breasts. Two things he liked in womyn. She sat down at a table near him he noticed and proceeded to look around. He was staring at his book when her eyes fell on him. He could feel her gaze for a longer time then she had looked at the others in the restaurant before she turned back to her menu.
Darien looked up from his book again, she had removed her sunglasses. He could see large blue eyes starred by thick dark eyelashes. He could feel his breath catch in his throat. Boy was she pretty. Maybe if he played his cards right he could land her in his bed.
"Your food sir," a waitress wearing a tight white blouse set down his lunch and walked off.
"Or maybe I'll wait till after lunch," Darien replied to himself as he picked up his fork.
Serena set down the fork on her plate and pushed it away from her. That had been a very good lunch. She had had the chicken salad and could safely say it was delicious. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the dark haired guy was still there sitting at his table with a relaxed manner still reading the same book. Serena smiled, he was really cute with that thoughtful expression on his face. She reached down for her purse to pull out her wallet. Her hand slipped inside the bag and came out empty. Suddenly her blood froze in her veins as she groped around through her purse and still came up empty. Serena opened the bag wider and searched even more but she still came up empty.
Serena sat back in her chair and dropped her head back. What was she going to do? She didn't have any money to pay for lunch! Blindly thinking that she could go and get money from her house Serena stood up and headed towards the exit.
"Excuse me miss where are you going?" The waiter's voice sounded very snooty and cold as he stepped in front of her and blocked her exit.
"I'm so sorry but I forgot my wallet and I was just going to get it from my apartment then I was going to come straight back, honest I was," Serena replied holding her bag up to show that it was empty.
"Well this is an unfortunate mistake," the waiter replied putting his hands behind his back and rocking slightly on his feet.
"I know and I'm so sorry but if you just let me pass I promise I'll come right back with the money," Serena babbled on as she tried to get past but the waiter stopped her by blocking her way again
. "I'm afraid that's not possible," he picked up a dirty dish from the table next to him. "Instead if you just want to follow me to the kitchen I'm sure they would love some help with washing these."
"What you want me to wash dishes!" Serena cried looking shocked.
"I don't think you have much of a choice."
"Yes she does. I'll pay for her."
Serena turned around to see the dark haired guy standing behind her pulling some money out of his wallet. "How much is her bill?"
"Eight euros," the waiter replied sounding slightly shocked and maybe a little disappointed.
"Alright here's the money for her lunch and mine." He handed the waited a small wad of bills then took Serena's elbow and led her out of the restaurant.
Serena was in shock and only able to follow him lamely down the street. She looked up at her savior, he was wearing a pair of blue jeans and black button up shirt with long sleeves. Closer up she could see that the sunglasses he wore were actually quite expensive and that his hair fell into bangs over his forehead.
"I can't believe you actually forgot your wallet. How old are you?"
"It's a common mistake," Serena replied wrenching her elbow out of his hand and stopping on the street corner.
Darien turned around and looked at her. "Well I guess only a meatball head like you would actually perform such a common mistake and forget her wallet."
"Meatball head? That's a very nice name to call me," Serena replied sarcastically.
Darien groaned and ran his hands through his hair. This was not going well, if he was going to ask this girl out then he better think of a better way then insulting her.
"Look I'm sorry I called you that name. Instead lets start over, "he held out his hand," my name is Darien and I would be charmed to have yours."
Serena looked down at the offered hand and felt the anger drain out of her. She took his hand in her own and shook it firmly. "My name is Serena."
"Don't you have a last name Miss Serena?"
Serena laughed and let go of his hand. "I tell you mine if you tell me yours."
For some reason Darien grimaced. "Its Shields," he replied after a short pause.
Serena personally wondered why he paused before giving her his name but decided to ignore it. "Mine is Tuskino."
"Tuskino? Is that Chinese?"
"No Japanese."
"Yea Japanese, that's what I said," he replied.
Serena raised an eyebrow then burst out laughing. Darien smiled down at her from his height. He knew he was going to like her.
"So if you finished with lunch maybe you would like to get some coffee with me?"
Serena stopped laughing. "I would love to but I still haven't paid you back and I don't have money on me."
"That's okay I'm loaded and I won't take no for answer and lets just think of it as for you paying me back for lunch."
Serena sighed and shook her head. "I don't call that a fair deal, but alright." She smiled up at him. "You lead the way."
"Wonderful!" We'll go to this small place I know called Starbucks, they have a great cappuccino."
"Starbucks? I thought you were going to take me to a quaint little coffee place that is only in this city. They even have a Starbucks or thirty in Tokyo," Serena replied wrinkling her nose.
"Yes well here in this city we have one Starbucks and no coffee shops. No one can ever compete with Starbucks."
Serena laughed and shook her head. "Lead the way and I'll follow."
Darien smiled and held out his elbow for her quite like a prince would do for his lady. Serena slipped her arm through and followed him down the street past the café where the waiter was watching them closely. He breathed a sigh of relief when they walked past without even looking at him.
"So what line of work are you in?" Serena asked a little while later. They sat inside the Starbucks Café in squashy soft armchairs next to each other.
"I'm currently unemployed right now," Darien replied taking a swig of his cappuccino.
"Really? Isn't that a little tough to live on? Not having a job I mean."
"Actually no it's not. I live with my mother so she pays for everything and gives me an allowance like the good boy I am."
Serena laughed and shook her head. "Well I wish I was that lucky to be unemployed and have a mother to pay for everything. No," she shook her head," instead I work at the local newspaper. I'm a columnist. Have you ever read the Local Inc?"
"No, I find that all that fashion advice is a little boring for me," Darien replied.
"Well I write all that boring junk."
"Great! Make me feel like a giant fool," Darien sighed.
Serena just laughed and placed her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to. I can understand that you don't read my column. Not a lot of men do."
Darien didn't reply but instead looked down at her hand on his arm. She had a small white hand with a silver ring on her second finger with a garnet setting.
Serena noticed he was looking down at her hand and quickly blushed and moved it away. Perhaps he didn't want her touching him. "I'm sorry I didn't mean too...I mean..."
"Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"
"What?" Serena looked up at him to see that he was staring right into her blue eyes with his own.
"I'm free tomorrow night and I know this great Chinese place and I was wondering if you wanted to go there with me tomorrow night," Darien replied.
"I would love to," Serena breathed happily. He had asked her out!
"Wonderful, I'll pick you up at your place at seven, dress to impress."
"Right." Serena nodded then turned away from him slightly as she wrapped her hands around her coffee cup and smiled. Perhaps she had finally found someone in Basalt.
Please remember to read and review or send all comments, questions, and suggestions to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you.