"Well", Serena gulped. "Here goes".

Stanton just rolled his eyes. "You've been saying that for the past three hours. Will you just do it already?" They were both outside in the freezing chill of New York City. That's where Catty's mother had decided to take them for Serena's birthday and therefore, Serena had made the decision to tell them what choice she was going to make, and seeing that it wasn't in their favor, she was afraid. Very afraid.

"Hey! Hold your horses, alright? I'm trying". Again, she sat staring at the door for a good fifteen minutes. "Well…"

"Here goes", Stanton repeated with her and to her surprise, he rung the doorbell. And before Serena could turn to scowl at him, the door flew open.

"Serena!" Jimena exclaimed, her voice joyful. She then turned to Stanton, a dull look covering her features. "Stanton."

"Nice to see you too, Jimena". He grinned cynically.

"Come in". She motioned for them to enter despite their refusal. When they didn't move, she ran around them and effortlessly pushed them into the room. There were Catty and Vanessa who was listening to a demo tape of Michael's.

"Um…" Serena mumbled. She was sure that she was sweating beads now.

"Let me do it" Stanton chided her.

She shook her head. "I don't think so". She knew they would take it hard if she was to reveal her decision. She couldn't imagine how they would take it if they heard it from Stanton.

"I… ah…"

"Yeah?" They all egged her on.

"Serena?" Jimena asked, concerned.

"See… what had happened was…"

"Uh huh?" Catty asked, getting impatient.

"We um… We… BOUGHT HOT DOGS!"

"KA- HOOOL!" They all exclaimed and jumped from their places on the ground. Stanton just slapped a hand to his forehead and stopped Serena before she could pull a leftover hot dog bag from her purse.

"Will you just tell them?!"

"Fine", she sighed. "I… er… we… he…"

"Serena!" Jimena scolded her.

"I'mgonnabecomeadarkgoddessandgowithStanton!"

"Come again?" Vanessa asked, confused.

Serena's eyes burned. "How many times do I have to tell you?!"

"You only told them once", Stanton corrected her.

"Who are you, my English teacher?!" She roared. "I'VE MADE MY CHOICE! I WANT TO BE A GODDESS! A DARK GODDESS! HAPPY?!"

They paused for awhile. Jimena finally spoke up. "No. Are you saying you want to join the Atrox?"

"No", Serena laughed nervously, back to her normal self. "I'll just be with Stanton… and the rest of the Followers… and Nefandus… and on missions… free chicken… you know stuff like tha-"

"Serena, that's joining the Atrox!"

"It is?!" She raised an eyebrow as if she didn't know. "Well see… what had happened was..."

"Will you stop saying that?!"

"Do I have your permission or not?" Serena asked Jimena. She wouldn't have had this much trouble with Maggie…

"Sure, but-"

"Thanks! Gotta go!"

"Serena! Wait!"

"I'll come back and visit! Until then, take this to remember me by!" And with that she flung the bag of half eaten hotdogs at them. Then running from the house, Stanton dissolved them both into shadow and they went hovering above the busy streets of New York City.