One Shot Chapter 3: Serendipity, a csi: new york fanfic

A/N: ONE SHOT, Chapter Three. This one's a lil' shorter. I just hope you enjoy this fic.

Reviews are very much appreciated. They're actually motivators for me.

Author: TanglewoodbabeViron (Viron Quintos)

Disclaimer: Things that I own: The story and the whole fic.

Things that I DO NOT own: CSI:NY characters, 8 mile.

Chapter Three: Serendipity

Don entered Hallie's classroom that afternoon, but he put aside his worries over his own life. He was actually late.

Her teacher, Miss Bonasera, was a good friend to Don.

"Ah, nice to see you, Don." She said brightly as he approached her.

Don noticed an engagement ring in her hand. "I see you're engaged…" he said teasingly, then he added bitterly, "To my boss."

Stella laughed at him. "Hey. I love Mac. He's a nice guy once you get to know him."

"Donnie!" His sister Hallie greeted him. Don bent down and gave her a hug.

"So, how have you been?" Stella asked Don.

But before Don could answer, the classroom door opened, and to his surprise, Aiden Burn walked in.

Stella noticed that Don was staring at Aiden so intently, she just had to tease him. "You got the hots for her?"

Then Hallie poked him in his gut, "If you like her, go talk to her." Stella laughed at how cute Hallie sounded. "What? You have a thing for being Don's little snitch?" she teased her.

Again, it was like Don didn't know what he was doing, like he was being controlled. The next thing he knew, he was walking up to Aiden.

"Hi." He said, grinning at her. "I sort of remembered you from the rap battle last night. I'm Don by the way." He extended a hand at her.

She took it, smiling. "Yeah, I remember. Don Tuck, right?"

"Yeah. I know, I looked like a fool up there last night. Gosh, I still feels so embarrassed." Don put a hand in his face, blushing furiously.

Aiden smiled at him sympathetically, "Aw, don't worry. You'll get a chance a blow." She leaned in closer and whispered to his ear: "I believe in you. I really think you could do better in rap"

Stella was looking at them with cocked eyebrows and a malicious smile. Don, catching her look, decided to change the topic.

"Er- so, who are you picking up?"

Aiden pointed to a boy who was talking with Hallie. "My nephew, Cody." Then Aiden raised her eyebrows at Don questioningly, "Wait, don't you work with my brother, Francis?"

Don nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"He's an ass, right?" Aiden asked.

He was surprised at this statement. Gosh. In response, he just nodded.

Then Cody approached Aiden, "Aunt Aiden!"

"Hey there, Cody! Ready to go?" Aiden asked, then turned to Don, "So I guess I'll see you around." She said with another grin slapped on her face.

"Yeah, I'll see you." Don replied.

Then, surprisingly (Man, Aiden was full of surprises), Aiden gave him a peck on the cheek. She turned to leave, and addressed to Stella. "Thanks, Stel. See you tomorrow. "

"I'll see you, too!" Stella called back.

Don touched the area where Aiden kissed him. He felt his cheeks blushing.

"Ooh… you like Cody's aunt, don't ya, Donnie!" Hallie teased him.

Don playfully held her neck and pretended to strangle her. "You're such a snitch!" He said while giving her kisses. He got up and said, "C'mon. I'll buy you some ice cream."

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Three nights before the battle, Don and the gang were hanging out at eXtreme, their favorite hang out.

"Are you ready for the battle?" Thumpy asked Don, sipping on his drink.

Damn it. There goes Thumpy again. Nagging him about the rap battle, can't he just back off for one frickin' second?

Don decided to drop a hint of confrontation, "Look, man, what's up with you and being into me with this rap battle?" he said it, showing his irritation. And decided to add more, "You act like I can't make it on my own. And FYI, I AM doing the rap. Ya happy?"

Thumpy defended: "I'm just trying to look out for you. And NO, I'm not acting like you can't make it on your own."

The thought of his skepticism about his friends crept again in Don's mind, and at this, he got up and walked out without another word.

"Yo, Don! Where are you going!" Hawkes called after him.

But Don, didn't even look back. He wasn't really sure if his friends REALLY cared about him anymore..

Outside, he sat on top of some dude's car's hood, and just listened to music. Trying to flush down the sandpaper thoughts that were grating on his sanity. Thoughts about his friends, his conflict with his mom, and his debt to Mac.

"Don?" A female voice called.

He looked up, it was Aiden. "What's up?" he greeted her as soon as she approached.

"I saw you walk out from your friends back there. You were really pissed, weren't you?" She tilted her head at one side, "You wanna talk about it?"

Don sighed. "Doesn't it ever frustrate you that people expect too much from you. Wherein, their expectation is their just for their own benefit?"

Aiden sat down beside him, "I'll give you my opinion. Maybe your friends are just looking out for you. Seems to me like rap music's your life."

"Well, it IS my life." Don looked at her, "It's the only thing that keeps me grounded. Rapping made me dream. It gave me an ambition. When I rap, I feel like I'm somebody. Everytime I write my rhymes, I put into words my life."

He looked away, "I just want one chance to show the worlds that I can rap. I just want one shot to prove to everyone that I'm not just some Vanilla Ice rapper, I mean the real deal."

Aiden put a hand on Don's face, and turned it. Making him face her, she dropped them, and said seriously: "Then why not take the shot in front of you? Don't dare hesitate to take it."

"'Bout you? What are you hoping for in life?" Don challenged her. "C'mon. Down here in Bronx is waiting. Up there in Manhattan, that's living."

Aiden grinned. "I've got this big audition for a choreographer next week. I might get a pro career. Music videos, tours…. You know, rolling in the Benjamins, and at the same time, doing what you know you love. Sure, I fall on my face and fail, but I never gave up dancing."

Don adjusted his baseball cap lower in his face, "So what you're saying is, I should go on with rapping. No matter what?"

Aiden nodded. A couple of girls called on Aiden, and both Aiden and Don looked around.

"I'll see you." And Aiden flipped Don's hat, turning it around, and kissed him. Deep.

A/N: Told you it was short. Chapter Four is probably the second to the last, and it'll come soon enough.

Here are Chapter Four hints:

- Don might regret being pissed off with Danny

- Love story takes its toll

- Most Dramatic of all chapters in this fic

- Prepare a hanky… if not, just hold your heart tight.

- It's tragic, I'll tell you now.

- It's a little longer

- Will probably have more of 8 MILE's story in it, I frickin' promise you

Hope you're liking this so far. Coz I don't receive much R&R's.

Now I feel like a crappy fan fic writer.

If I am, just tell me, Aight?