Serena hurried to work not wanting to be late her first day. She'd spent all her time, between moving and school, learning the ropes at the arcade. Andrew had even promised her her own set of keys in a week or two.
"Hey Sere you headed to the arcade?" Mina said jogging up beside her.
"Yeah first official day. You headed over there?"
"Yeah tomorrows my birthday and I want to be sure Andrew knows." Serena knew for a fact that Andrew was well aware of her friend's birthday; he'd spoken of little else the last week. The man had a serious case of love or lust but Serena was betting on the former.
"Hey so did I tell you about Darien's rules?" Serena asked glancing at her friend slyly.
"No. Spill." Mina as always was hungry for information ok gossip and Serena gladly filled her in.
"What an idiot! Are all men complete imbeciles?" Serena gave her a look noting the coherent sentence employing a big word.
"Well I was hoping you could help me out." Serena drawled slowly.
"Sure what do you need?" The bubbly blond asked always ready to help a friend.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Mina exclaimed clapping her hands together as they walked into the Arcade.
"Serena I wanna see you in the crew room now!" Serena cringed and glanced at Mina, she guessed her master plan had been revealed, Andrew didn't appear to like it all that much.
"First off I don't appreciate being threatened. Second I'll help you anyways though you need a new plan. Darien's never going to believe I have I thing for you." Andrew collapsed into the embrace of the ratty yet oh so comfortable couch.
"I told Mina to get you to get one of your friends to do it."
"Oh that make much more sense." Andrew chuckled and patted the couch beside him.
"I think I have just the guy in mind… be here tomorrow at five thirty, and take the rest of the night off."
"Thanks Drew." Serena gave him a peck on the cheek and took off, planning on going shopping with Mina. Her mom had convinced her dad that he should pay for her rent so half the money she made she put away for college the other half was hers to spend as she pleased.
Serena showed up promptly at five thirty dressed to kill in a pink corset style tube top and faded blue jean low riders. She stopped inside the doors and took a look around before walking up to the counter.
"So Andrew?" She asked expectantly.
"Your date for the night milady, Liam." Andrew gestured extravagantly to the man sitting on the stool three seats away from her and leaned in close.
"Just don't hurt him this time." He whispered. The two looked at each other for a moment before simultaneously screaming at Andrew.
"Are you nuts this bastard….."
"Are you insane this bitch kneed…" then they promptly turned on each other.
"Who are you calling a bitch?"
"What do you mean bastard?"
"Guys guys." Andrew called loudly trying to get their attention once more. He held up both hands stepping back a little as both shot him death glares.
"Liam you were being… a jerk." Andrew started hesitantly. "But Darien put him up to it, and here he comes." They were still glaring at Andrew when they heard the door open and close. Serena had to fight from showing the shock she felt as Liam gently gripped her hand and laid a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
"Cherie I apologies." Serena let her head fall back slightly with a laugh.
"Charmer." She murmured and he smiled up at her and winked, making her laugh again a little more genuinely this time.
"Serena? Liam? What are you two doing here?" Darien asked looking from one to the other, not sure he liked the small smile that played on Serena's lips or the mischievous glint in his friends eyes.
"We were just apologizing to each other for our mutual bad behavior on our first meeting. And now I'm going to take this lovely lady out for dinner." Liam easily slipped his arm threw Serena's and guided her out of the arcade.
"See you later Darien." She threw over her shoulder as they walked out the door. As soon as they were out of sight she took back her arm and glared at her escort.
"Ok spill what was Andrew talking about?" Liam told her the story as they walked, Serena not really paying attention to where they were going.
"In that case I'm sorry I was so… violent." Serena said with an apologetic smile.
"Don't worry about it. So do you like chicken?" Liam asked abruptly changing the subject.
"Huh?" Liam simply gestured to his right. They were at Swiss Chalet. (AN I couldn't think of any restaurants that weren't way expensive and I LUV Swiss Chalet, plus it's not a real date!.) Serena nodded and fallowed him inside.
"You paying?" She asked as they waited to be seated.
"Of coarse." She smiled and shook her head at the mock offense in his voice.
Serena walked in at a little after eleven having thoroughly enjoyed herself. She was used to having a ton of guy friends and not many girl friends and she'd missed it a little. Not that she'd trade the girls for anything but it was nice to have an addition to the group of guys she hung out with. She had to admit Liam was seriously good looking with those green eyes and that gorgeous thick brown hair with red highlights. However he wasn't really her type, too charming and flirtatious.
"Where were you?" Darien asked as she walked into the living room. Was she imagining things or was that a hint of jealousy? She decided to play it for all it was worth, giving a deep sigh and letting a wistful smile creep across her lips.
"We went to dinner and talked for two and a half hours then went dancing." She moved off into her room as if slightly dazed and fell into her bed trying not to burst out laughing. The look on Darien's face priceless. Liam had taken her dancing after dinner they'd gotten to the club at nine and stayed for two hours. They would have stayed longer but both she and Liam had to get up early for work the next day. They also planned to have another 'date' tomorrow. Liam was going to take her to the movies. Only she was going to pay. They weren't really dating after all and it was hardly fair to make him pay for everything.
After about two weeks of going out with Liam nearly every night Darien was barely talking to her any more. She wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Finally over breakfast the next morning Darien said something interesting.
"I think you're seeing too much of Liam." He stated blandly not looking up from his cereal.
"Ok dad." was her snarky reply. Inside she was jumping for joy.
"I know Liam a lot better then you do." He countered.
"Well if it makes you feel better I'm hanging out with the girls tonight." Serena snapped and stood walking briskly from the table to the bathroom. She took a nice hot shower, dried her hair and wrapped herself in a towel that barley covered her. She walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen without even glancing at Darien though his eyes tracked her every move. She'd spent the last two weeks walking around in skimpy PJ's first thing in the morning though she always had her rob loosely tied around her waist. After the second time Darien had caught her raiding the fridge in the middle of the night he's stopped coming out of his room before dawn. It was amazing how much modesty a skimpy rob lent hipsters and a camisole. She opened the fridge and pulled out a can of pop then headed into her own room. The way she paraded about had at first started out as a way to tease Darien but now she was just so comfortable with him she hardly ever thought of it.
"Just how many boyfriends have you had?" Darien asked suspiciously as she came out of her room in a jean miniskirt and a plain white tank top with a thick brown leather belt loosely over top.
"Truth?" Darien nodded. "None." With that Serena walked out. She went to the arcade to meet up with the girls and Liam and then the two of them headed off to dinner. She was home relatively early at eight. It was the earliest she'd gotten home when she'd been out with Liam.
"Have fun?" Darien asked and there was something in his voice, she just knew he'd checked up on her.
"Loads." Sure enough when she called Mina she reported that Darien had called looking for her. Of coarse the girls knew how to answer they'd spent most of the day together but then Liam had surprised her ant taken her out to dinner. Serena smiled and flopped onto her bed determined to go to bed early. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, and a stressful one. She hoped her plan worked if not then it was going to be irrevocably over between her and Darien.