Have fun reading!
Usual disclaimer apply
CHAPTER THREE
"Yes!" Serena pumped a fist in the air and twirled happily in a little dance on the college campus. "Summer break is here!"
"Stop it Chalice, you're embarrassing us," glared the fiery Raye Hino. The raven-haired beauty was Japanese-born but spoke flawless English.
"Come on Raye, aren't you at least a little happy that it's vacation time?" Serena cart-wheeled on the grass.
"Ummm...no!"
"Have you guys started on your assignments?" questioned the blue-haired Amy Smith. Her horn-rimmed glasses matched with her attire and eluded a sense of maturity.
Sweatdrops all around.
"Amy, how many times have we gone through this?" Raye and Serena linked arms with Amy in a sly fashion.
"It's summer," emphasized Raye, "lighten up!"
"Look who's talking!" glared Serena.
And the two bickered on, as the three best friends strode towards their afternoon stop.
"So, what're you planning for vacation?" asked Raye, sipping on a milkshake at the Crown's Arcade.
"I dunno, I was planning to go somewhere with Daniel...but..." Serena stared depressingly at her glass.
"Cheer up girl, there're better assholes in this world!" Raye slapped on her back.
"But, I LIKED him."
"That's not the same as love, Sere." Amy noted, sliding her dropping glasses up.
"I MIGHT have loved him." She glanced off in her own reverie and stared outside at the passer-bys.
The door jingled as an annoyed Darien strode in.
"Hey." He strode in the shop and plunked himself in front of Andrew – the barman and also his best friend.
"What's up?" Andrew asked, already handing him his daily routine black coffee.
"Nothing."
Silence. As the seconds ticked, a stream of emotions past Darien's face – anger, embarrassment, and just plain old pissed off.
"Why you so moody?"
"I just got dumped." Darien growled and snapped his coffee down with a thud.
"By...?" Andrew trailed off, "Shelly dumped you?"
After ten more seconds of silence between the pair, he burst out laughing.
"Man, I ain't see this coming!"
"Shut up."
"Really, first time eh? Now you know how us people feel!"
"Yeah, yeah..." Darien frowned and sighed.
"You never liked her much anyway, so what's with the long face?" Andrew inquired.
"I was going to go to Sydney for summer vacation for this business thing. Decided to take her with me."
"But you never got the chance because she dumped you." Andrew grinned again.
"Yea, something like that."
"Well, take Serena, she definitely needs cheering up." Andrew suggested.
Darien pondered for a while and brooded over his coffee. It was a good idea. She always liked the beaches and sun. Said she needed a better tan or something. Melbourne was always too cold for her. Yeah...it was a great idea!
"Since when you so smart?" A smile slowly spread across Darien's face.
"Always was pal, always was." Andrew smiled cockily and strode to serve another customer.
"Bye girls!" Serena waved a goodbye to Raye and Amy and strolled off in the opposite direction, heading home.
The sun was a fiery ball now, gradually sinking and allowing the moon to shine. She strolled slowly, tucking her hands in her pockets in deep thought.
"Hey, Sere! Wait up!" Darien jogged up to her, panting slightly.
"Hi! What's up?" She turned her bright smile at him and linked arms.
"You doing anything this vacation?" He asked.
"Not really. Why?"
"Well, I'm going to Sydney for this business trip..."
"Oh no! I was hoping we'll spend tons of time together. Just you and me, y'know. It's been a long time, that's all." She sighed sadly and let go of him.
"Yeah, well, I was hoping you'll come with me. They told me to bring a partner, y'know, kind of like my assistant. So, it's like, you can enjoy the scenery and earn a decent wage. You up for it?"
"Your assistant?" She turned a confused face to him.
"Y'know, typing, filing, secretary stuff. It's only for two weeks. Accommodation and all that's paid for. So, don't worry about that."
"You're nervous Dar," Serena secretly smiled, "Why? You never are. Think I'm going to reject you?"
He winced. "Try not to mention that word. Bit painful today."
"Shelly I assume?" A grin lit her face.
He nodded briskly. "Come on, stop teasing me. You up for it or not?"
"Of course I am!" She hugged him tightly and twirled around. "Thank you! It's just what I needed to get away from everything."
Darien broke in a relieved smile. "Great. I figured it might."
"I can't wait!" Serena squealed happily and twirled once again.
AN: R&R!