AN: Here's another short chapter I'm so sorry I seem to be incapable of writing long chapters, for two reasons 1) I luv writing cliff hanger (sorry) 2) when I get to such a cliff hanger my brain decided it wants to stop working thus not even I know what's going to happen. On the up side though it means I'm going to write another chapter and this is not the end! Yay much rejoicing.

Serena woke up to the phone ringing and stretched languorously before reaching over and picking it up.

"Hello?" She muttered groggily into the receiver wondering who in their right mind would call her at this ungodly hour. What time was it anyway? She wondered groping for her watch on the bedside table. Eight thirty. She flopped back into bed fully ready to hang up and go back to sleep.

"Rise and shine Rena." The voice on the phone chirped. It had to be her brother only he would dare call her this early.

"God Sammy why are you calling me so damned early?" She asked her mind still refusing to wake up and work.

"Because we're going to meet for breakfast and we have to be checked out by ten. I know how long it takes you to get ready Rena. See you in an hour."

"Right see ya." Serena hung up deciding her brother had sounded entirely to cheerful for this early in the morning. She rolled over promising to get up in ten minutes and shut her eyes when the phone rang again.

"Don't you dare go back to sleep." Sammy warned then hung up once more. Serena sighed in defeat and extracted herself from the warm cocoon of blankets and made her way to the shower.

Serena hugged her brother and grabbed the bag of clothes she'd bought and hopped onto the bus for the long trip home. Her stomach was knotted with nervous anticipation, she had no idea what Darien was going to do when she got home. She knew he would assume she'd spent the night with Liam, she had after all orchestrated it that way. But what was he going to do with that information. That was the question that was gnawing at her. A hundred different scenarios ran through her mind her imagination working overtime to supply all the images and before she knew it the ride was over. She was no better prepared for this confrontation for all her worrying just more anxious then ever. She took a deep calming breath outside the door turned the key and walked in trying to appear composed, detached. She looked around and almost collapsed with relief when Darien was nowhere to be seen. She turned to re-lock the door and toss her keys on the side table.

"Where have you been?" Serena spun with a yelp at the unexpected voice. Darien sat up from where he'd obviously spent the night on the couch and Serena felt the first stirrings of guilt.

"Well?" Serena's pounding heart decided to take up residence in her esophagus and she couldn't get the words past. Darien stood and was staring at her with such an intense look of rage she took a step back.

"Was it good at least?" That question caught her off guard enough that she found her voice.

"Was what good?" He stalked towards her like an approaching storm and she fell back against the door. He leaned in close supporting his weight on his forearm which rested by her head effectively trapping her.

"Fucking Liam!" He growled his voice low almost soft as if he were trying not to yell. Serena's gut tightened, this had not been among her scenarios …

"Wait a minute!" She sputtered. "Just cuz I spend the night out you think I'm fucking someone! Do you really think so little of me?"

"You were with him weren't you?" Darien demanded taking a step towards her.

"That would be none of you business." Serena snarled if he was bent on having a fight she'd give him one. He leaned forward then tangling one hand in her hair and kissed her. Hard. Screaming and yelling she could have dealt with but now what to do about this. His mouth crushed against hers with bruising force, when she felt his tongue she jerked away.

"Don't you want me anymore? Is Liam really that good?" Serena looked to the side not ready to face him.

"Liam was working last night, I went to meet my brother." She finally looked at him eyes wide to keep the tears from falling.

"Liam and I are just friends and that was certainly a memorable first kiss." She pushed passed him then and ran for her room. Maybe her plan hadn't been such a good idea Darien obviously did not deal with jealousy well.