The Perfect Prank
Chapter XVIII. The Perfect Prank
By: Sailor Angie

AN: This chapter is a little shorter, but I'll explain why at the end of the chapter. Thank you for all your reviews. Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Andrew paced around his apartment. He was waiting for Darien to arrive. He had a great idea for their next video project.

"Sorry I'm late." Darien let himself in.

"No prob dude, I've got nowhere to be. I just wanted to run my idea past you before I got the ball rolling with the other guys. You always have an eye for what stories will be successful. I mean you practically forced us to do 'Buy Me,' when none of us thought it could go anywhere, and I'm still getting calls from producers that want me." Andy reasoned with Darien as he grabbed a soda out of the fridge and sat on the couch.

"So get on with it." Darien waved the soda in the air.

"Well I came up with the idea a couple months ago when Mina and I were on Spring Break—" Darien interrupted him.

"Andy you are such an asshole." Darien shook his head.

"What did I do now?" Andy was confused.

"Do you realize that you ruined my spring break get away with Serena when you crashed that hotel. I only told you where we were staying in case of an emergency. NOT so you could bring a party up there with you, get drunk and have loud sex with Mina." Darien rolled his eyes.

"You heard that?" Andrew blushed slightly.

"Yeah, we heard everything. What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't thinking, I guess." Andy defended.

"Ya know, ever since you've been dating Mina—"

"Don't you dare bring her into this." Andrew pointed at Darien.

"I'm not." Darien said shortly, "I'm not."

"Listen dude, I'm real sorry. You're right, I wasn't thinking. But Mina told me that Serena couldn't stop smiling for a month after spring break. Said it was the best week of her life, or something. So you guys must have made up for it somehow."

"That's not getting you off the hook." Darien was still upset.

"C'mon Darien it was like two months ago. I said I was sorry okay. There's nothing more I can do about it. It won't happen again. Besides, you and Serena are still pretty serious right?" Andrew retrieved a beer from the fridge.

"I think so." Darien had to hide a smile. He always smiled when he thought of Serena; she was perfect.

"And to think it all started because of a prank."

"Lots of pranks." Darien corrected.

"No, I mean Serena's 'Perfect Prank.'" Andrew sat down on the sofa.

"Which one was that again?" Darien was confused.

"Serena called the truce with you, but it was just a diversion for her perfect prank. She wanted to get back at you for that stunt you pulled on the first day." He paused to take a drink, "I'm surprised Serena didn't tell you." Andy turned on the TV.

"I think she did, but I forgot. So what's the 'Perfect Prank' again?" Darien probed Andrew.

"Yeah, Serena's perfect prank. She was gonna make you fall in love with her, then break your heart." Andrew watched the channels flick past.

All the air drained out of Darien's lungs, and he found himself unable to breath.

"When you and Raye broke up, it was the perfect opportunity. But Mina said she called it off cuz she actually had feelings for you." Andrew turned away from the TV to find that Darien was gone. "I didn't even tell you my idea." He yelled at the door. Andrew shrugged and continued channel surfing, thinking he would call him later.

Darien's mind raced as he walked slowly back to his apartment; which was only a few blocks away. His face had paled to a white sheen and his breaths were short and shallow, "This just can't be—" His thoughts were cut short.

"Hey sexy," Serena grabbed his arm, "I was just coming to see you." She kissed his cheek. When he didn't respond verbally or physically she stopped him, "Oh honey, you don't look so good. You'd better not be coming down with something. Finals are only two weeks away. And if you get sick, so will I. You know I can't stay way from you." She stopped again when he still only stood there, "Darien, are you okay?"

"We need to talk." He said coldly and began walking.

"Look, if this is about the dinner we had with my parents last weekend don't worry. So what if my mom wouldn't talk to you because she caught us making out during spring break. My dad said he liked you." Serena followed him up the elevator.

"No, it's not that." He toggled with the lock on his door.

"Jiggle it to the left." She said absentmindedly. He did, and the door swung open, "Then what is it?"

"Sit down Serena." He almost ordered.

"What is this about?" She took a seat on the couch.

He stood tall before her, "The Perfect Prank." His eyes were cold and distant.

The color drained from Serena's face and she swallowed hard, "I can explain." She said slowly.

"How could you do this to me?! I never though YOU could stoop so low!" He threw his hands in the air, "I gave in to YOU!" He pointed his finger at her, "I made love to YOU! I TOLD YOU I LOVED YOU!" She had only seen him like this the day he had snapped after she had met Raye. "I did love you." He said in a choked whisper.

"Darien calm down." Serena could see the pain in his eyes so clearly.

"CALM DOWN!?" He stared through her, "It was all a JOKE! I was the butt of one of your stupid jokes." Tears began to well up in Darien's eyes threatening to break free. "Well, you got me Serena, you got me good. Mission accomplished. Now get out." He pointed to the door.

"Darien you don't understand." Serena began to cry.

"Oh I understand everything. We're through. I never want to see you again!" The pain turned to loathing.

"Darien we need to talk about this." She approached him sobbing; he turned his back to her as tears began to burn his cheeks.

He heard her sobs fade, and when he turned back around she was gone and the door to his apartment was open.

Darien closed the door, walked slowly to his room, crawled into bed, and cried himself to sleep.

Serena trudged back to her dorm room. Her heart was broken. She could have never imagined that her prank would have such horrible results; especially for her.

'Darien had been so irrational,' She thought, 'He wouldn't even let me explain. But then again, why should he have given me a chance; I betrayed him, when all he ever did was love ma and I threw it all away. I hope he knows the prank is over. I just wish I could have told him I loved him.' She wiped away some stray tears.

Mina was in their room getting ready to go out with Andy when she returned. "Hey Serena," She didn't look away from her reflection in the mirror.

Serena didn't answer.

"I'm going to the movies with Andy. I think we're spending the night at his place." She closed her compact and threw on her coat. She grabbed her purse and stated, "You and Darien should double date with us sometime. See you tomorrow." She shut the door behind her.

Serena stood in the middle of their room for a moment before everything hit her at full force: Darien had broken up with her.

She collapsed to the floor in a fit of sobs, 'It's over,' She said mentally, 'He hates me; I've lost the only good thing I've ever had in my life because of a stupid prank that never happened. I'll never get him back.' She was devastated.

AN: I'm sorry this chapter is short, but I felt like it had a good beginning and ending point, and I can't go on forever about break ups; they make me sad. So the perfect prank finally did come back to haunt Serena. What will happen next? Reviews are appreciated, I want to know what you think. Later days!

Preview --- Chapter XIX. The Answering Machine --- Darien and Serena are left to deal with their break up. That damn answering machine isn't helping. How does Sammy fit into everything?