2002 Valentine's Special: Waiting for You

Part 7: Misunderstandings

By: Ghostwriter

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            'Did you know Henry Briscoe is Serena's fiancé?' Danielle asked Darien excitedly.

            'No, I did not,' Darien replied, trying to hide his discomfort. 'Anyway, he is way too old for her,' he made a turning to the left.

            'She might have affection for older men,' Danielle said with a wave of her hand. She noticed that Darien had been boiling with ill suppressed anger all night, especially when they are around Henry Briscoe and Serena. 'Surely you're not jealous?'

            'Jealous? Why would I be jealous?' Darien demanded as he pulled up smoothly in front of the hotel. 'I'm merely surprised that some one would actually have Meatball Head for a boyfriend, that's all.'

            Danielle studied his face for a minute as he pulled up in front of the main entrance to her hotel. His jaw was taut with leashed anger and his blue eyes were flashing. 'We're here,' he snapped.

            'Are you sure you don't want to come up?' she whispered huskily into his ear.

            Darien sighed. 'I'm tired, Danielle. You're the one who dragged me to that ball and now I'm dead tired. I want to go home,' he told her firmly.

            'Fine,' she retorted shortly as she opened the car door. She was having problems controlling her fury as well. Not only Serena's 'almost family' with one of the most influential man in the fashion business, her boyfriend had watched her from afar with a possessive glint in his eyes the whole night. Danielle's sixth sense told her that Darien might have more than friendly feelings for that blonde.

            She watched through the lobby's glass doors as Darien's black BMW drove off into the night.

            I'm never letting you go, Darien, she thought determinedly.

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            Once he let off Danielle at her hotel, Darien allowed himself the freedom to scowl as deeply as he wants to. His features were dark and his brow furrowed into a frown. He could not and would not believe that his Meatball Head is betrothed or even has a boyfriend.

            Wait a minute, my Meatball Head? Darien mentally roared at himself. Since when is she my Meatball Head?

            'Argh!' he groaned as he slapped himself on the forehead. 'Darien Shields, get a grip! You do not like Meatball Head. You have a girlfriend. Whether Meatball Head is engaged to that sleazy old fool is none of your business.'

            Images of a laughing Serena waltzing in Briscoe's arms flooded into his mind. Darien gritted his teeth at the memory. He looked upwards and sent a silent prayer. 'Oh God, please. Don't tell me – no, don't let me fall in love with Serena.'

            But deep down, he had a feeling it was all too late.

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            'So you had fun?' Henry asked casually as he drove. He stole a look at the blonde in the passenger seat. 'Serena, are you listening to me?'

            'Huh?' Serena instantly snapped out of whatever she was thinking.

            'Penny for your thoughts,' Henry grinned. 'Oh wait, let me save my penny. I know who you're thinking off.'

            'You do not,' Serena flushed up prettily and nibbled her lower lip, something that she always does when she is extremely nervous.

            'You were thinking of a certain gorgeous dark haired model with beautiful green eyes…'

            'No, he has blue eyes, beautiful blue, like sparkling sapphires,' Serena corrected absentmindedly. 'Oops – Henry,' she stared at him reproachfully. 'Is this how you treat a lady? By baiting her?'

            Henry laughed. 'You really like him don't you? Did he ask you who I am to you?'

            'Yeah, he did.'

            'What did you tell him?'

            'What we had agreed on, of course. I told him we're almost a family.'

            Henry chuckled. 'Now that explains why I feel daggers behind my back every time I turn in towards Mr. Shields,' he drawled.

            'Why is that so?'

            'My dear, Mr. Shields was undeniably jealous this evening,' Henry drawled. 'If looks can burn, I'll be toasted by now, and I do think that Setsuna likes me better the way I am now.'

            'Why should he be jealous? He has a gorgeous model at his arm the entire night.'

            'But not as gorgeous as the child woman I had at mine,' Henry reminded her. 'Young men are very simple creatures,' he continued. 'He has got deep feelings for you, but he refuses to admit them but yet feels the urge to throttle me dead every time I so much lay a finger on you.'

            'Oh Henry, Darien isn't the violent type,' Serena protested.

            'And is that why you like him?' Henry teased.

            'No – I like me only as a friend,' Serena insisted.

            'Well, if you like all your friends that way, I'm sure all the guys in your class will be extremely willing to make your acquaintance. We're here. Send my regards to your aunt,' Henry said as he leaned over and delivered a chaste peck on Serena's cheek.

            'OK – bye!' Serena said brightly as she bounced down from the car up the front steps. A silver haired man opened the door and smilingly admitted her in.

            Those two, Henry thought smilingly, are crazy over each other but refuses to admit it.

            'I wonder will they invite me when they get married,' Henry thought aloud. Considering her relationship with Serena, he decided that they will have to.

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Disclaimer: I'm a ghost and ghosts can't really own anything beside their thoughts. Besides, you can't file a legal lawsuit because there is no way you can sue a dead person.

Hey People!

            I know, this is such a short and un happening chapter. Sorry, but I'm still having exams so I can't write much. My head is swamped with formulas and stuff and is barely functioning. But mail/review me to make sure I don't slack or else I'll never get this thing finish.

Haunts of Love,

GHOSTWRITER…