Title of Story: A Deal for Love
Chapter 6

By: Sweet Luna

"No wait, I can't go there. I don't want to," Serena tried to pry herself away.

"Stop being a baby," Darien went behind and started pushing her lightly towards the table.

"No I can't." Serena stopped walking but Darien kept on insisting. Serena turned around and went around him trying to get away. There was no way she was going to go there. She was too afraid of not knowing what would happen. She nodded her head murmuring to herself until she felt a firm grasp on her hand. Serena looked back in time to see Darien remove his sunglasses. He looked at her solidly. Even though he didn't say a word Serena understood.

"Darien!" they both turned around and saw his friends waving to them. Darien turned back around and gave Serena one last look. He dragged Serena along with him and Serena tried to get his hands off her arm but failed. Plus it was too late to run for any sort of safety. What as Darien trying to do? Embarrass her? Took you long enough," one of his buddies said grinning. Darien took a seat and urged Serena to do so as well. Serena inched away from the group as far as possible without being noticed and watched them talk. This felt so strange. She didn't belong there. She belonged in her house, in her room rocking it out to the radio, eating unhealthy food and reading magazines. What was she thinking? Dating Darien was a mistake. Who knew it was so frustrating to date Darien? This whole "dating" thing with the most popular guy in school, it was just a mistake Fate had made. There's no chance in hell this was meant to be. Minutes seemed like eternity. Time dragged itself slowly and Serena's urge to go home was growing. She didn't belong here with them. It was strange how she was the only girl with them. Some of the boys had girlfriends so why is it that she was the only girl there with them? Because Darien enjoys torturing her, that's why. Well the tables can turn Serena grinned.

"Hey Darien," Serena inched closer to him," Sweetie I want to go shop around. Let's go." She tugged on his sleeves. Darien looked at her curious at what she's trying to do. He searched her face looking for answers which he couldn't find. Serena just kept giving an angelic smile with puppy eyes. "C'mon Darien, you said we came here to shop. Let's go or I'm going to leave. This isn't fair." Serena peered from the corners of her eyes at Darien's friends. They were staring at Darien to see what his reactions would be.

"Uh, ok." Darien got up from his seat and Serena jumped excited that she didn't have to suffer any longer.

"Well I'll be seeing you guys later," Serena waved at them and grabbed Darien dragging him away.

"What was that about?" Darien asked when they were no longer at the food court.

"Did you really think I'd stay there for who knows how long? It was torment enough."

"We were only there for twenty minutes." Darien pointed out. Serena didn't say anything. She was sure it was longer than that.

"So?" Serena finally let out," How can you bring me here? Are you trying to torture me even more? Don't you think I had enough for a day?" Serena started walking away but Darien followed. "Go away." Serena shouted back.

"Fine you want to go shopping?" Serena stopped suddenly and spun around to face him. "Follow me than." Serena was skeptical at first wondering where he would drag her next but it wasn't like she could leave either. So Serena tagged behind. She followed him as he went into store after store. He went into Armani Exchange and bought $300 worth of clothes. Darien made Serena hold the bags and at first Serena didn't notice. There weren't many bags at the beginning but she started noticing as he went into Lacoste and Hollister and so on that there were more bags to hold and it was much heavier. Finally they got out into the parking lot and to Darien's car. Serena let out a big sigh of relief as she let the bags down.

"Damn how much shopping must you do?" Serena asked sarcastically. She was totally wiped out.

"Just put the bags in the car and let's go back in."

"Back in! What for!"

"What do you mean what for? I thought you wanted to go shopping." Darien said trying to look clueless. Serena took in deep breaths to keep herself from lunging towards Darien. It was getting dark. The sky was a dark aqua color and the street lamps began to turn on. "C'mon pick up the bags and put them in my car."

"Who cares about your stupid bags!" Serena shouted. She gathered the bags and threw them in front of Darien's feet. "You can carry your bags yourself! Forget you. I don't care. I'm walking home." Serena walked away mumbling to herself. She went back inside the mall to get away from Darien, just incase he would follow to yell at her. She wanted to get away, go home and lay under her bed covers. Was that too much to ask for? When Serena thought it was a good time to go out and start walking home she ironically ran into Andrew entering the mall.

"Where are you going? Darien's at the food court." Andrew told her.

"He went back there? HA," Serena laughed to herself. "Well tell that dickhead that I'm leaving."

"Why don't you wait until we drive you home? It's awfully far."

"God, Is Darien always this confusing? Why does he have to make everything a living nightmare? It's like he's the devil. Why me? I'm not cut out for this. First I over hear I'm not good enough and people give me looks, giving me death glares, wondering what is she doing with him?" Andrew grabbed Serena's shoulders to calm her down.

"Serena, are you alright? What are you talking about?" Serena let out a huff.

"I don't know," Serena answered weakly.

"First off, who cares what anyone says you're beautiful and secondly the girls are just jealous. There's nothing wrong with you so don't be self- conscience." Serena smiled and blushed. He was such a good therapist always knowing what to say. No wonder he's such a lady's man. She gave him a hug.

"Getting a little too comfortable with the meatball head don't you think Andrew?" Serena let go and turned around. Darien was looking at her sternly. "Serena you left in such a hurry," Darien said sardonically. "It's quite a walk and I bet you don't even know where the nearest bus stop is."

"I don't care. I'll hitch a ride home."

"Don't worry Darien. I'll give her a ride home." Andrew interrupted.

"No that's fine. I'll give her a ride home. I've got something to tell her anyways." Darien looked at Serena like she did something wrong.

"Can't you tell me now? I don't mind getting a ride from Andrew." Serena felt a little afraid. She didn't what to expect.

"I'll give her a ride. After all, she came with me." Darien walked away taking Serena with him. She tried to stop but he kept going. It looked embarrassing so Serena went with him until they got to the car. He got in while Serena stood not wanting to get inside. The car started and the engine roared. She still didn't get in. After a few seconds Darien got out of the car and looked over at her.

"Are you getting in or not?" Serena rolled her eyes at him and got in. The car ride home was a silent one and Serena felt more and more uncomfortable by the second. Finally when she was in front of her house she was glad and tried to scramble out of the car. Darien held her down before she could actually get out. Her stomach dropped.

"Yes?" Serena asked after a few minutes have passed.

Darien was about to say something but stopped. "There's a party next week. You're coming." Darien ordered.

"Is this what you wanted to tell me before? That there's a party and I'm suppose to come? You've got to be kidding me. "Fine fine. But ain't it a coincidence that Diamond invites me to his party the day we hook up?" With that Serena left and went inside. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it in relief. She ran up to her room and called Mina immediately lashing out everything that happened.

"Are you going to Diamond's party?" Mina asked anxiously.

"What are you kidding me? NO."

"Why not?"

"Why should I?"

"Because you guys were old time buddies?" Mina answered simply. She didn't know. She didn't know that she use to like him when he first moved there in middle school. They become close friends too but when they started high school he started to get popular and his main goal was to be the best, better than Darien. How cocky he had become. She saw no point in going to the party

"But you can go Mina and so can Rei, Ami and Lita. I think I'm going to busy anyways. Um Darien doesn't want me to go because you know." Serena lied.

"Aw. Ok but it won't as fun without you." Serena smiled and hung up. Things were different. It gave Serena goose bumps. It was just too hectic for her too handle but what could she do? All these chaos was getting to her and all she could do is sleep on it and hope for the better.