CHAPTER THREE

"Geez, Rena, really know how to make a guy look like an anus. Couldn't have some consideration?" He pushed her playfully.

"Aw, I'm flattered, Drew," she said looking up to the roof and placing her left hand on her chest in fake gratitude and sarcasm. He gently jabbed her in the shoulder again. She tumbled to the couch with a light chuckle. "You know you love me," she said smirking.

"And that's 'cause I can't even control that," he sad as he walked over to his fridge for a drink.

"Am I that loveable?" he queried playfully. He thought for a second.

"Naw, you're just you're just too pitiful, I love you out…" a huge cushion landed in his jaw spilling the coke he was drinking all over him.

"Oops…" she answered with her angelic expression.

"Dammit, Sere! Your mom gave me this shirt." He glared at her.

"Fine, I'll wash it. Take it off." She began to stroll over to him. "Com'on! Don't have all day, besides I'm doing you a favour, loud-mouth." She tapped her foot impatiently. Rolling his eyes pulled off her shirt, revealing toned abs. She glanced down at them and he smiled proudly. A little too proudly. "When did you get these, Drew?" she asked at quickly and she punched in his stomach and disappeared out the door before the pain washed over the poor guy.

"Serena!" A blond head peeped through the door.

"Where's the mart, darling?" she asked sweetly.

"THERE'S A SIGN", he barked and she had the dodge the empty bottle he through for her head. As she retreated he could hear her light giggle. He smiled to himself. He loved that girl. Even if he had a choice. Even if she hadn't 'sistered' him and even if her mom didn't take the place of his mom after she passed away. She was truly amazing.

"Nice pack, Mr. Muscle," came a feminine voice that broke him from his daze. His gaze met hers.

"Hey, Lita"

"Missed you too Drew, but not the way you did." She smirked. "Where's Sere?"

"You just missed her. She spilled coke over my shirt and went to get it cleaned." He scratched his neck, a little nervously

"Well I'll wait here for her. Where's her dorm?"

"Further up this hall. Gonna go get a um….."

"Shirt?" She added.

"Um…yeah. Be right back." She nodded. "Help yourself to the fridge," he hollered.

"I know."

"There's a sign, there's a sign, there's a sign. Where the hell is the sign!" She huffed impatiently.

"This sign?" A voice questioned behind her. She turned to face one of Drew's friends: the one with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. He held a sign that he seemed to have picked up from the ground.

"That should be it," she answered a bit nervously and embarrassed.

"Came off during a fight this morning. No biggie. Serena, right?"

"Yep, Rena. And you're…"she struggled to remember the name.

"Matt."

"Matt. Right. Thanks." She smiled awkwardly. "Well I, um… need to get this washed off for Drew." His cringed almost unnoticeably but she still saw it.

"You and Andrew, you're not a…."

"Me and Andy?" She furrowed her neat eyebrows. "Brother and sister for nine years. Nothing going on." She smiled lightly. "Don't you think we act it?"

"Well, yeah, I guess. He just…never mind. So then you're still single?"

"For the time being."

"Good. Cause, I'd like to get to know you better."

"Same here," she said with a smirk.

"Is tomorrow good?"

"Sure, I've got nothing planned."

"Perfect."

"But what is it that Andy told you?"

"Well…he said that his girlfriend was starting college this semester…so I assumed…"

"He did? I see."

"It's probably just my mistake. Sorry."

"Nah, it's okay. Hey, I'm not too familiar with this place. Can you stick around with me a while. Went through so many doors, I don't think I can find my way back to Drew's apartment." He chuckled at her comment.

"No problem."

"Aw, you're sweet. Thanks." He's a nice guy. I guess college won't be too bad even when Lita and Drew aren't around.

Today was pretty long, I guess after that little incident I hit if off on the court. How was I to expect to see a complete copy of Serena? I'm such an idiot. I got so nervous, I lied qbout my name and I called her 'Sere'! Why am I so screw up? Well, the fact that she was the little girl who I believed was, I dunno, perfect. But I only knew her til I was 10 and I even dreamt bout her years after. Thank God, it stopped! I was beginning to think I loved her or something. But I must admit that no girl I've ever dated seemed as…sincere as her. Then again, she was 7. Which 7-year-old isn't sincere? This Serena is jus a fictitious character and she's probably changed into someone completely. She probably didn't even turn out to look like that 'Rena'-girl. Maybe she dyed her hair black and cut it to her ears. I just so tired. I opened the door to my dorm and collapsed on my couch. I wasn't tired, I was exhausted. Wait, that girl today was Andrew's sister, so her name's Rena Johnson. She isn't Sere. I drifted into sleep…

…but not for long. Someone was knocking on my door and my room was completely dark. I got up and forced myself to the door. The hallway was dark also.

"Yeah," I answered annoyed.

"Um…Da…Jared?" Her voice was a little hesitating. But it was Andrew's sisters. I'd already learned her voice. She held a flashlight in her hand and flashed it at her face.

"It's me, Rena. I…"

"Hi," I said awkwardly. Her expression changed from uncertainty.

"I needed some candles but I didn't realize I lived right across from you. But now I do…I need to talk to you, Darien. I'm…" OH MY GOD! She knows I lied. I feel like an ass but she's not angry, she's…beautiful so I said the first thing I could think of.

"Wanna come in?"

"Um…yeah." She walked in and I went to look for some candles.

I can't believe he lives right across from me. Well, I guess I couldn't even run away from this. I'm in his apartment. He thinks I'm Rena Thompson for sure, I think. I feel so guilty though, when I tell him who I am he'll probably hate me. He hated me after the accident. I don't know why. I shouldn't even be here. What am I gonna tell him. 'Hey, I'm actually Serena Grant, your long lost friend, although I think you hate me, not to mention I had a huge 7-year-old crush on you. I missed you like crazy, let's continue from where we left off!' I need some air.

When I got back she was on the porch, it was bright out there and she looked so…serene and…perfect. I stared at the gorgeous girl. I owe this girl and explanation and an apology. So I went out.

"I found some candles." She looked at me with this expression. It was so…familiar. It had admiration, care and much hurt. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what happened to her. I felt guilty, maybe it's cause I lied to her. But it seemed to be more than just that. We stared intensely at each other, but she was less confused bout this than I was. She had a knowingness in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Dari." She came to me and wrapped her arms tightly around me. It was all too familiar, it was just too familiar.

"I'm actually Serena Grant, your long lost friend, although I think you hate me, not to mention I had a huge 7-year-old crush on you. I missed you like crazy, let's continue from where we left off."

"Sere," was all I could muster up and I returned her hug.

"I feel so stupid."

"Why?" I questioned as I leaned back to see her face.

"I don't know. Cause you hate me," she answered like the weak little girl I knew years ago.

"Hate you? How could I? I've missed you. I needed you. I was an orphan and 9."

"You didn't seem to need me." She looked so confused, tears forming in her eyes.

"I was confused." I am confused, I'm flustered, I'm not thinking straight anymore.

"I'm sorry. I miss them. I missed you. I'm…" I kissed her forehead tenderly. She seemed so helpless, not the same girl I met earlier who called me 'handsome'. This was the inner Serena that could never change, the emotional sincere lil Sere.

"Don't worry, I'm here, you're here."

"How did you manage?" she looked right into me. Her eyes were piercing but harmless.

"I don't know," I stated honestly. Then we were silent, for a long time, a long long time…

Suddenly everywhere was bright. I was confused.

"What happened?"

"There was a power outage. That's why I came for the candles. I guess it's back now." Her voice was so gentle but strong again, like earlier. She wasn't lil Sere anymore.

"Oh…right," I'd forgotten all about that.

"I should get going, Dari." I smiled at the sound of the name she had for me. It gave me the feeling that she looked up to me, like she had back then.

"Yeah, it's late." I responded as she started walking back inside. I took in her attire. She was in the shortest shorts I had every seen and very fitted tank top. "Well, maybe you can just stay the night. It's late." She looked at me strangely, after all it was about 9:00pm. "Besides, it'll be like old times." Her expression brightened and she smiled at me.

"Sure. We're a little old to be doing this, but I don't mind. Let me just grab something from my room." I put my hands in my pocket and nodded. As she retreated, I stared at her ass like the dick I was. Hey, a guy's a guy. But I'd never take advantage of her, she's Sere.

Just when I got comfortable, he had to be a guy. But, I didn't mind. He's hot! I had a crush, but maybe it'll come back. Can you blame me? He's matured into having very strong masculine facial features, intense midnight eyes and all with black hair almost covering his eyes. But that's impossible. His eyes are way too captivating to ever be lost under his bangs. So although he asked me to stay, I had to go, just for a while, to change my shorts and get away from his intoxicating smell. Could a guy smell that good? Is he allowed to? The situation moved from a reunion, getting over a tough obstacle in our lives and into me pining for my long-lost-best friend. I'm ridiculous, and it's not like he helped with his lil undercover flirtatiousness. Actually, maybe it's just my imagination since I'm trying to find an excuse to defend myself. But I'm sure I felt abs, well-toned abs. And his arms felt so good around me: strong and protective…Bad Rena!

I found my sweats and got some chips and was heading back over to Dare's place. I knocked and he came after about a minute.

"Hey, sorry bout that; was in the shower." water still dripping from his hair, a towel hanging loosely around his neck and yep, I was right, he had abs to kill! I didn't stare but one glance gave me a lot of info.

"No prob. A girl could wait all day," I said, playfully tapping my foot and rolling my eyes. I poked him playfully in the chest as he let myself in. He chuckled a deep smooth chuckle. It's adorable. Heck, this has to stop. This isn't a regular guy, this is Dare. Now that I have him back I won't wreck it with any dumb intentions. I'm getting back what I lost and I have no intention of letting it slip away again. Not in something this stupid.

She changed her pants. I was disappointed yet a bit relieved at the same time. She's very attractive, might I had a couple more very's to that. But I want her friendship back. It meant the world to me. And that was first priority, she…just touched me. Oh buddy! What was I? Oh, friendship's first priority…… I think. Why did I do this to myself?