I am SO sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter out. I've been really busy, and plus I had a major writer's block set in on me…grrr, don't you all hate writer's blocks They're horrible! T-T
The
Towel Rack
Rated:
PG
Chapter
Eight: The Kiss of a Mission Complete
Day:
Saturday Night
---Serena POV---
I stared blankly at Darien. Staring is fun…especially when the object you're staring at is just so cute!
He was staring blankly himself, off into some hidden vortex that for some reason, I couldn't see. What is he thinking? I kept wondering, searching out every inch of his face, trying to pry some kind of answer from his expression.
Quite frankly…I received none.
That man added a whole new perspective on the words 'blank'. There was NOTHING in his face. No hints, no clues, nothing…
Here I am…panicking…wondering…and hoping…and he seems so calm?
That just ticks me off.
"Darien?" I whispered softly.
So…I wanted to sound mad…that didn't go over so well. Softness and madness don't mix.
"Hmm?" He mumbled, still turned away staring into his damned abyss.
"Darien…answer me…"
He sighed.
I blinked. "You won't?"
"No…no, it's not that. It's just…it's very difficult to explain, Serena."
"I think we have plenty of time, Dar." I giggled.
He smiled lightly. "Yeah, you're right…we do…"
I waited for him to start talking.
He didn't.
Abyss again…
I sighed. "Darien."
"What?" He looked up.
I gave him an evil glare. I'm good at those.
He sighed rather unhappily and shrugged. "You really don't want to know."
"But I do."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
"No…your really don't."
"Yes…I really, REALLY do."
"You don't."
"I do."
"Don't."
"Do."
"DON'T!"
"DOOOOOO!"
He sighed. "That's why I can't tell you, Serena!"
"What is!"
"We fight too much!"
"So? That doesn't matter!"
"Yes, it does! It matters because I'm in love with someone who it seems I can't stop fighting with for five minutes!"
I jumped.
I literally jumped.
And squeaked. Like a mouse. Like a really happy, jumping for joy squeaky little mouse.
And when I jumped….the towel rack came toppling down.
All the bars that were being held against the walls fell flat down. One hit Darien on the head. Another hit my head. The next two fell on my back.
I rubbed my head gently and pushed the bar off my head.
"Ouchies." I mumbled, giving the bar my Grim Reaper death glare.
I heard Darien laughing behind me. I turned around, and he was still laughing.
"OH, sure, Darien. Laugh at my demise. You get one bar and I get three. Great."
I rolled my eyes and decided to give it up. I fell down on his chest and closed my eyes.
"I wasn't laughing at you, Serena."
"Then what were you laughing at? The rack?"
"Yeah, sure!"
"Uh-huh…"
"It's because you're cute. I wouldn't laugh and make fun, Serena…"
I raised my eyes to his, glared and pouted. "You have before."
He frowned. "I know…I'm sorry."
I just simply nodded, my head still resting again on his chest. I was still too dumbstruck over his last 'words' that I could care less WHAT he said NOW. He could tell me he was the King of France and I would say "Bonjour" and be done with it.
"You alright, Serena…?"
"Just a big bump on my head and a little sleepy, that's all." I mumbled.
I had full intent of falling asleep right then and there. He seemed a good substitute for a pillow.
"Good night, Darien." I yawned.
I felt him put his arms around me as I drifted off.
"'Night, Sere…"
---Raye POV---
I tapped my fingers restlessly against the computer desk, looking around at the rest of the group. They were intently watching a movie. So intently watching the movie that I was the ONLY one to notice Chad sneak in the room and sneak out the back door…
Now where the heck was he going? At this late hour?
I glanced at the clock. It was only 8:30. Okay, so it wasn't late. I was still curious as to what he was up to…
That guy is always up to something. He's nothing but trouble! But Grandpa and he have fun together…and the temple has become so much more fun and interesting since he's been here…
I shook my head and snuck out the door behind the movie watchers.
Looking around the temple grounds, I noticed Chad running down the temple stairs and jump in a convertible red sports car with another guy who looked a lot like he did. I frowned. That wasn't a temple robe Chad was wearing. Jeans and a jacket…where was he GOING?
I chewed on my lip thoughtfully and watched the car speed away. Then I turned back to the temple and walked back inside and took a seat among the other girls.
That was awfully odd…I'll get some answers tomorrow…
---Darien POV---
She's cute when she's asleep.
I smiled and brushed a loose strand of Serena's hair behind her ear. She'd been asleep for nearly an hour. It's funny how she can sleep anywhere at any time. Andrew and I have seen her walk in the arcade time after time, collapse at the counter, and pass out. It takes a while to wake her up to. We tried nudging her, repeating her name time after time, yelling at her, and one time we even tried sticking a milkshake under her nose hoping she'd wake up because of the smell of chocolate…
None of it ever worked…
No wonder she's late for school so often. I don't think any alarm in the world could ever wake her up!
She snored lightly. I blinked and glanced down at her. She had since moved her position from the "towel rack" trapped state to simply laying in my lap wither head on my shoulder. I can't say I minded…let her sleep, for all I care. I could stay like this forever and die a happy man.
---One Hour Later---
Nine million, seven hundred and thirty eight...nine million, seven hundred and thirty nine…nine million, seven hundred and forty…nine million, seven hundred and forty-one…
"Darien?"
I jumped slightly and looked down at Serena, who was staring up at me with wide, sleepy eyes.
"You're awake." I smiled lightly.
She nodded shyly, placing a hand over her mouth and yawning. "Yup. What were you doing? Staring off into the abyss again?" She giggled slightly and shifted in my arms so she faced me.
I blushed slightly. "Oh…just…counting…"
"Counting?"
"I got very bored."
"I can see that." She giggled again. "How long was I asleep?"
"A couple hours."
"Wow. How far did you get counting?"
"Nine million, seven hundred and forty two."
"…."
"Heh…uhhh…."
"You're really cute when you stutter."
I blinked. Did she just say…?
She blushed and looked away. "Sorry…"
I smiled and kissed the top of her head.
She stared up at me, blushing.
---Serena POV---
I wonder if I've added another shade of red to the charts yet. Ever since I've been in this darn closet with him, I've been blushing. Blush, blush, blush…
Suddenly Darien was tugging playfully at one of the buns of hair on top of my head. I raised an eyebrow at him.
He smiled happily. "Your hair is falling out, Sere."
I reached up to touch my hair and touched his hand instead. I blushed, but I didn't let go.
He stared down at me. I stared up at him.
We've had a lot of staring wars since we've been in here.
He really does have gorgeous eyes…
He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away from my hair. My hand dropped to my lap and I stared up at him, waiting for him to say something…
He just simply stared back at me. His expression was so…different and yet so familiar at the same time. He looked…adoring, loving…
Then it all hit me.
"Yes, it does! It matters because I'm in love with someone who it seems I can't stop fighting with for five minutes!"
Oh, god…he loves me. Me…little, stupid, clumsy me…
My hand flew to my head. "Do I have a fever?"
He frowned. "Huh?"
"This can't be real. I must be dreaming."
"…dreaming?"
I took my hand away from my head and stared him in the eye. "Did you really mean what you said a while ago…?"
"What did I say…?"
"That…well…"
"Yes?"
"That you were in love…with…someone…"
He smiled lightly. "Well, Serena…I'm not the kind of person who would say something like that and not mean it."
"So you really did mean it…?"
"…every word."
"This can't be real. It's…it's a dream…"
He frowned and turned away. "Well, at least you didn't go so far as to say it was a nightmare…and I'm sorry."
I blinked. "Sorry?"
"It's not like I could stop myself from loving you. Believe me, I tried that. It just didn't work…"
"Don't…don't say that…"
"I already said, I'm sorry…I know you don't feel the same. I've gotten used to the thoughts of that…"
"I wish you wouldn't…"
"I won't bother you, if that's what you're hoping…nothing will change, okay? Once we leave this closet, it will all go back to normal, okay? I promise…"
"Darien, stop it!"
He blinked and looked down at me. "Serena…?"
"Don't…no, things can't go back! No, no, no!" I shook my head furiously. He was not going to blow this for the both of us, no way!
"Darien, things can't ever go back to the way they were before, and I don't want them to! I don't want you to call me Meatball head! I prefer you calling me Sere…I prefer being with you like THIS, not fighting with you!"
He didn't say anything…he looked away. "Then what do you want?"
I bit my lip. Admitting things isn't exactly easy for anyone…especially me…
"I want…"
He looked back at me.
My lip was bleeding, but I didn't pay it any attention. "I want…to love you. Because…I do love you. And…I don't want things to go back because I want to be able to share that with you without fear of…you laughing."
He smiled slightly…softly. It was so soft that it barely touched his face. It meant more than any other smile he ever gave me. It was better than a bright smile, a happy smile, a laughing smile, or any other smile…
He touched my face lightly and leaned down.
And then he kissed me.
---Mina POV---
I was sobbing. Sobbing SOBBING.
Titanic has to be the saddest movie I've ever seen.
SOBBING.
Amy was crying, too. Wow, look at her eyes. She's all red and puffy. That's kinda funny.
Raye and Lita were sitting and hugging each other, crying.
"He just had to DIE…"
"Lita, he's not THAT cute…"
"Are you INSANE? Leonardo DiCaprio is positively gorgeous."
"I don't think so."
Amy and I joined the conversation.
"Me, neither."
"I disagree as well…"
"Traitors! I'll bet Serena would agree with me!" Lita stuck her tongue out at us.
"Nah, she wouldn't. Her favorites consist of Orlando Bloom, Johnny Depp, and Heath Ledger." I shrugged.
"I didn't think Heath Ledger was that hot." Raye argued.
"Nah, me neither."
"Johnny Depp is old." Lita pouted.
"Yes, I know. It's so sad. He SO does not look like he's in his 40s." I sighed.
"What about…"
We all looked at Amy.
"Yeah, Ames?" I poked her arm.
"Well...Brad Pitt?"
"OOOOHHH!" We all jumped up happily and had a big group hug.
"Good one, Ames!" Lita cheered. "Good choice!"
Amy rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother…" She giggled, though.
I pulled out of the hug. "Hey, I wonder how the prisoners are doing…"
We all glanced at the closed bedroom door. Rushing for it, I slung it open and then tiptoed to the closet and pressed my ear to the door.
I pouted. I heard absolutely nothing coming from the closet.
I walked back into the room.
"Well?" Raye asked.
I plopped on the floor. "Nothing."
"Quiet?"
"Yeah." I sighed unhappily.
---Serena POV---
Darien pulled away from kissing me and grinned. "You're bleeding. Bit your lip too hard?"
I blushed and put two fingers to my lips. "I guess so…"
He laughed lightly and kissed my nose.
I smiled softly. "You know…"
"Yeah?"
"I guess we should thank Andrew and the girls."
He blinked. Then grinned. "To some extent. I'm still going to murder him, though."
"Yeah…me, too. We should kill them all."
"How're we going to do that…? It has to be ingenious. Something they'll never see coming."
"We'll think of something…we've got at least all night to come up with a plan."
He laughed. "All night. Sounds good to me." He kissed my forehead.
I grinned. "You're going to kiss me all night, aren't you?"
"You have any protests?"
"Not a one. In fact, I request that you do."
"Good. That's what I was hoping."
---------------------------------------------------------------
End Chapter Nine.
Next chapter should be fun! Revenge can be so fun to write…I've got to come up with a great ending to this. If anyone has any suggestions or thoughts on what kind of revenge I should enact on the perpetrators, let me know! I'd love to know what you all think about it!
Please review!
Luna
