Just a short chapter. And sorry everyone for not updating for ages! I'll be
quicker now, I promise!
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sunday passed all a blur – a whirlwind of shopping and laughter with Darien. He was always so cute when they went out shopping, thought Serena. All 100 male and grouchy.
But it was now a cool summer night, and the pair was sipping wine out on the balcony, enjoying the view.
"It's weird how life is sometimes." Serena noted, gazing at the twinkling stars.
"I guess." He shrugged and closed his eyes. Relaxing. Unwinding.
"I mean, I never expected to be best friends with a person like you." She said quietly.
"Oh thanks a lot." Darien replied sarcastically and punched her lightly on the shoulder.
"You know what I mean. You're the calm and silent type... I wonder why we fit so well together?" She mused.
"Opposites attract." He murmured.
"Yeah. Probably."
The pair fell silent for a while, both lost in their own thoughts.
"Thanks." She reached out and found his hand. Held on to it.
"For what?" He asked.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Just for always being there, I suppose."
"Your welcome." Darien squeezed her hand gently. "And thank you for understanding me all the time."
"You're an open book darling." She grinned at him.
She let her head fall on his chest and his strong arms encircled her.
It was pure bliss, and both savored the moment, lost in their memories.
But Serena's peace was soon ruined by the busy Monday work. Errands sending her up and down the building, papers to type, messages to reply, phones to answer – the list was endless.
"Could you please –" Darien was cut off by a flushed Serena.
"Not now! Give me one minute, just one damn minute to rest." She groaned and sank on the sofa.
"Well, I never said this was going to be no work and all play." He shrugged and kept on typing.
"You tricked me! You dirty, rotten rodent!"
"Nice vocabulary Serena." He complimented mockingly.
"Argh! You said the job was going to be easy! Just some typing here and there. You're making me run halfway across the world with the 'errands' you give me! Next thing you'll know I'll have to wait on you hand and foot, getting your coffee and serving you breakfast in bed."
"Well, that's not a bad –" Darien's eyes lit up at the idea.
"Don't even think about it." She glared at him with lightning in her eyes.
"Really, if you can't take the pressure now, how are you going to succeed in life?" he asked simply.
"I DO NOT need a lecture right now." She dropped to the floor on her knees and clasped her hands in front of her, begging, "Please Darien, I'm hungry and tired, can I pretty pretty please go on my lunch break now?" She batted her eyelashes and pouted prettily.
Damn, she KNOWS I can't resist that puppy face, thought Darien. "Oh right, oh right. You worked hard, go out and have lunch. In fact, I'll come with you."
"Yes!" She whooped and jumped in the air.
"BUT, you've got to give this to James first." He handed her a thick manila folder.
"Sure, sure. But the second I'm back, we're leaving this hell-hole." She demanded and whirled out the door.
"Where do you want to eat?" Darien asked, as they toured the city. The sun was glaring mercilessly down at them, the fluffy clouds were nowhere to be seen.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Anywhere. My stomach's growling."
"Italian?"
"Sure," Serena replied cheerfully.
They both walked in the little rowdy restaurant and ordered.
Conversation flowed around them – teenagers shouted, couples chattered, families laughed, but the pair was strangely silent.
Darien toyed with his pasta, appetite forgotten.
"Aren't you hungry?" Serena asked, her mouth full of spaghetti and meatballs.
"Don't speak with your mouth open." Darien scolded automatically.
"Whatever."
"And I don't know, I seem to have lost my appetite." Darien glanced intensely out the window.
Serena stared at him, her blue eyes concentrated on his facial expressions. No, better leave him alone in this surly mood. She returned to her lunch.
"Oh! I just remembered!" Darien told her suddenly, his eyes snapping back to focus.
"Hmmm?" Serena murmured, glancing at him.
"The airport found your suitcase. They're sending it over soon. Tomorrow, I think."
"That's wonderful!" Serena brightened at the thought.
"You gave the folder to James I presume?" Darien inquired.
"Of course. You doubt me?" Serena said, hurt.
"No, of course not." He twirled with his pasta. This way and that. "What do you see in him?" Darien asked suddenly.
"Who? Oh, James? We've only gone out on one date, and he seemed pretty interested in you, more than anything."
"Oh really? Probably trying to find my secrets in learning how to run a business." Darien snickered inwardly.
"Darien, how can you say that? James is a good businessman. He has a keen eye for this stuff. Besides, he was more interested in your personal issues." As soon as she uttered those words, she wished she had never said them. For, Darien turned a dark shade of red and his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Oh really?" He said again, an underlying menace in his voice.
"It's probably nothing. Just curiosity." Serena tried to soothe him, but it didn't help.
"Just curious, eh? Sure he is." Darien replied, disbelievingly.
"Don't be such a cynic. Next thing you know, you'll forbid me to go out with him in case I spill your company's secrets."
"Will you?" He asked her with intensity, sharp as a blade.
"Of course not! What's wrong? It's not like you to be so infuriating and moody."
"James brings out the worst in me." He said shortly.
Serena shook her head in disbelief. "If I didn't know better, I would've thought you were jealous of us!"
"Us? You've only been on one date!" If this wasn't jealousy slowly consuming him, he didn't know what was.
It hurt him to see Serena this way, upset and confused by his actions. It hurt more, knowing he caused it without even a damn proper reason.
"Darien, what has gotten into you? This is the second time you've questioned on my relationship with James! Don't you trust me with what I do? Don't you trust me with my choices?" She lost the fiery blaze in her eyes, and her tone was gentler now, pleading with him to see her viewpoint.
But his jealousy and envy was devouring him. Gradually consuming him. He couldn't stop now, the love he felt for Serena urged him to keep going. To explain to her of his feelings towards this whole issue. But if love made you hurt the one you adored, wasn't this love misused and misplaced?
"He's not good enough for you." He responded weakly, knowing it sounded lame, covering his hand over hers on the table.
She snatched her hand away. "Maybe he isn't. Maybe you're right. But I need to find that for myself. I can't forever lean on your shoulders and cry there. I have to learn to live life the way I want. I don't want you, or anyone else, ruling my life." She snapped back at him.
"You're like my little sister. And I love you." Knowing in his heart, he felt more than friendship.
"Then show it." With that, she stormed off.
Darien could only sit vulnerably and watch her go away.
AN: Well...the drama intensifies...
Pretty please review?