You can all thank Dennis for my quick update. He has prevented me from leaving my house for the weekend. For those who don't watch the weather channel (which I'm sure is the better part of all you wonderful readers) Dennis is the opening Hurricane for hurricane season. Florida is yet again under attack. Oh and to SteelHeartRose, at the end of the last chapter that was supposed to be an invitation for after the ball. Sorry for the confusion! Oh and thank you to all the wonderful readers who took the time to review. It honestly did make my day!

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We must have been kissing for hours or so it seems to me. He's such a good kisser. The kind of good kisser that can make a person's brain shutdown. While they are worthwhile kisses I do hate losing all sense of reality. So, with much effort, I slowly ease out of his kiss.

"We should stop." That was so lame.

"Why?" Is he smirking at me? Why. Butthead.

"Because we haven't even been on a date yet. By society's standards I'm a slut." It's sad but true. Why are men allowed to be as promiscuous as they wish but if women even hint at it, we get the accusatory index finger and the preaching eyes? I'll tell you why because men think that because they have a penis they are free of society's constraints and therefore free of judgment. Well guess what, I'm a very judgmental person! Wait….that's not a good thing is it? See! This is where worthwhile kisses lead you.

"What's wrong with being a slut? I happen to make a living out of it and I can tell you first hand, it's a wild ride." What a weirdo. People aren't supposed to like being sluts. It's supposed to be shameful and taboo. Although I will admit I was a temporary slut. Just for a week or so and it was definitely….intriguing.

"Okay I don't like being a slut. Look I'm just going to put this out on the table and cut the crap. I don't mind sluts but I don't like dating them. I'm a one man kinda woman and I like my man to be and feel the same. So if you feel you can't hang up your 'Slut' title I'm afraid you and I aren't going to get very far." Why do I always have to be so harsh? I mean I stand by my words one hundred percent, I just wish I could phrase them so I wouldn't chase the most gorgeous of sluts away.

My mother's right. I'm going to end up a spinster with a thousand fish. I know you're all thinking, 'doesn't a spinster have a thousand cats?' I'm allergic to cats and my mother says I'm not good with dogs. My dog runs away once and I'm not good with dogs. He came back! She never remembers that part. So I opted for the in between. Fish are easy to take care. Plus I never really liked the idea of having to clean up after cats or dogs.

"Are you always this straight forward or do I just bring it out in you?" He's smiling. That's a good sign. Oh and it's such a pretty sign too….Focus!

"Unfortunately I am. I've been told a bit rough too." I comment wryly.

"That's okay. I like it rough…" Oh the innuendos and him naked in all of them. Bad Serena, bad! You can't say no sluts and then have those slut-filled thoughts. I'm such a contradiction.

"I think I better get home. After all I don't want to look something the cat dragged in." At this point I think I'm going to look far worse than anything the cat could drag in.

"Can I walk you home?" This is so weird. I feel like I'm back in middle school and my first sweet heart is shyly holding my hand. It's nice, innocent even.

"I'd like that, very much." What is it about him, that makes me weak in the knees?

The walk back to my apartment was silent. I'm not sure if we weren't talking because we just couldn't think of anything to say or because what else can you say after a kiss like that? How's the weather? See any good movies lately? I think not. I see my building nearing with every step we take. I quickly start trying to come up with the perfect goodbye and believe me that's not easy.

"Well this is me." I stupidly point to my door and then do everything I can not to slap myself. Of course he knows where I live. How else could he have sent me so many flowers and personally invited me to the Charity ball, in my own home.

"Yeah, I remember." He lightly chuckles and I find myself giggling softly. It's not quite that uncomfortable laughing. More toward the 'we both realize something stupid was said,' laughing.

"Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Six forty-five, right?" Now I'm just babbling. I wish there was a button I could push that would automatically close my mouth. Therefore preventing any pointless and potentially embarrassing conversation. I smile one last time and start to go inside when he lightly touches my hand. I stop and turn to him, a questioning look upon my face.

"I can hang it up. If that's what you want. I don't know what this is between us but I do know, that I'm willing to be a one woman kinda man." Maybe he is for real. Maybe this is for real. The sincerity in his voice is what compelled me to grab the collar of his shirt and press my lips against his.

"Wanna come in?" I can barely speak against his fervent kisses. Suddenly he slows his kisses until he's separated himself completely from me. A boyish grin on his face.

"But wouldn't that definitely make you a slut by society's standards?" That is a very valid point. Am I really willing to be so blatantly branded for a night of passion with this beautiful man. Just one glance at his lips makes my decision for me.

"I think I can accept that fate." I give him my most convincing smile, hoping he gives in. I can tell he's actually debating. So deciding to take matters into my own hands, or rather my lips, I start to lightly kiss his neck.

"Uh….well…um…" Smiling inwardly while he stammers, I make my way up toward his jaw. Still placing feathery kisses on his skin. I start kissing his cheek and slowly move to his mouth and before placing my mouth fully on his, I stop.

"Well?" I try to ask in a seductive tone but even I can hear the soft giggles in my voice. I couldn't help it! He's stammering for goodness sake! All his composure is gone and he's nothing but goo in my hands! It's funny. I glance into his eyes and sigh, I guess his composure is back.

"As hard as this is for me, emphasis on hard, I plan to have some type of relationship between us before I get between you." With a quick wink, a soft kiss on my lips, and a bright blush staining my cheeks, he's gone. This is definitely going to be interesting.

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-Ring- "Uhh…." –Ring- "No…." –Ring- "Stop…."

"Hey it's Serena. You know what to do." -Beep-

"Sere pick up. Come on Sere I know you're there. Wakey wakey!" Damnit. All. To. Hell.

"Why did you feel the need to wake me up? That was quite possibly one of the best sleeps I have had in the past year." Does she even realize how hard it is to get a good night's sleep?

"Oh be quiet Mrs. Grumpy Pants. It's time for you to greet the day!" She is far too chipper this early in the morning. Why is it that the person doing the waking is always over the top joyful? And why is it that the waker is always surprised at the anger of the wakey? Are they really so shocked? It's like taking a dog's chew toy and then scratching your head in confusion when they do nothing but growl at you.

"What do you want?" So tired. Need. More. Sleep.

"Serena Ann Carter are you aware of what today is?" What is today? What was yesterday? And for that matter what year is it? I hate having a fuzzy memory in the morning. But then again I probably wouldn't have a fuzzy memory if I had been able to wake up on my own! Oh crap!

"The Charity Ball!" I shoot up in bed, which was a bad idea because now I'm dizzy. Deep breaths.

"Oh good you didn't forget. So how are you doing your hair? I was thinking that I was going to curl my hair. Not the small curls, but the big, old-school Hollywood curls. What do you think?" Did she just say something? Why is that woman talking to me in the midst of waking up? And on top of that in the midst of realizing how important today! You'd think she would understand I need all the beauty sleep I can get.

"Mina my brain is working very slowly. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, what on earth are you going on about?" That sounded rude. I'm really not trying to be rude but she has to expect this. You have to agree that she had this attitude coming. I mean honestly, who wakes up one of their supposed best friends at….nine o'clock in the morning! Horrible. Just horrible.

"Really Serena, I know you can be slow but dense also? This Charity Ball is high-class you know. You can't just go waltzing in there looking all drab. So what are you doing with your hair? And please don't say you're just going to wear it down because I will not even look at you if you try to do that." You know I love this girl to death but I swear she can be so shallow sometimes.

"Listen to me. The ball does not start for another ten, that's right, ten hours. I think I will have time to do my hair in a fashion you will most definitely envy, get dressed, and have a great time on my date. I am going back to sleep. Call me in four hours." Sleep good. Me like sleep.

"So you're going to have a great date huh? Is there something you'd like to share with the group?" Did she not hear the part about sleep? Oh I bet she's devised some type of plot to prevent me from sleeping. Why I have no idea but I bet she did it anyway! She probably has it all planned out and laughs maniacally all the while twirling her handle-bar mustache. Wait…does Mina have a handle-bar mustache? I can't remember….

"Yes. Me like him. Him nice." This is what happens when you try to make conversation with someone whose brain is half asleep.

"Oh! I just knew you two would hit it off. I could tell because you always get really angry when you truly like the guy. Plus I could just tell he wanted you, he is not a man who knows of subtlety. So tell me details!" I think she likes torturing me. No I know it. I mean usually Mina likes to torture me face to face and with me fully awake so she can get full enjoyment out of my misery but now. Oh now she is sinking to an all new low. I can't even function properly I'm so tired and here she is pouncing on me for even the slightest hint of gossip!

"Please. I'm begging you woman. Let me sleep!" Sleep, how I miss thee.

"Fine go back to sleep. But when you wake up again I intend to get all the details out of--" Yes I did just hang up the phone on her. And yes, I will be falling back asleep in approximately five seconds. Four, three, two….

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"So Mina says you've fallen for the slut? I'm surprised Sere, I thought you were anti-slut. Didn't you even buy repellent at one time in your life?" Heh Raye remembers that. She doesn't remember when we met but she remembers one of my more embarrassing lapse of judgments. Go figure.

"Do you guys think that for once you could restrain yourselves from ragging on me. This is what you wanted remember? You can't shake your heads in shame when you were praising him a mere week ago." When I don't agree with them I'm automatically wrong. When I do agree with them I'm automatically wrong. Does anyone else see the flaw in this system?

"No one's ragging on you Serena, we're just surprised. After all that huffing and puffing you did at the restaurant, we were all sure you wouldn't let things happen with him just to spite us! Who knew you'd actually see the error in your ways." I know they all love me and believe I love them all (despite many internal protests) but sometimes I just want to flick them all on the forehead!

"You know Amy I was just wondering how open to our advice you had been when you first met Greg? If I recall you proclaimed your hatred for him moments after meeting him. Whatever did happen to poor little Greg? Oh that's right. YOU MARRIED HIM!" Geesh it's like none of them have ever disagreed with on something and then gone and done the thing we told them to do! They all turn a blind eye to their bad decisions but as soon as it's me, they flaunt it all over town!

"Calm down Sere," and here comes the patronizing, "we're just happy you listened to your heart." I was sure she was going to say 'to your friends.' Does that mean they've finally accepted that I'm a grown woman capable of making her own decisions in her own time?

"Not to mention her friends." They get me every time! As soon as I think I'm pulling myself out of their grip, they pull me back! I just look over at Mina and she winks at me in that way she does when she knows she scored a point in our never ending battle of wits. She's surprisingly always in the lead. I'm not saying she's dumb or anything but she's not exactly the brightest crayon if you get my drift.

"Anyways, if you girls think you can drift from the topic of my life, is there anything you all would care to share?" And now the spotlight moves.

"Well there is something I guess I should tell you guys. Not that I didn't want to or anything of that sort, I just wanted to know for sure before I went around blabbing it to people, you know?" Amy is the absolute, smartest person I know but sometimes I think she doesn't even know how to speak comprehensible English.

"Actually no Ames. Care to enlighten us?" I'm so glad Raye said it and not me. Whenever I question Amy, they think it's because I don't understand. Which is true most of the time but that doesn't mean I'm slower then them. I bet they all wait for me to say the same thing they're all thinking to Amy. 'Huh?'

"Well you guys know how Greg and I have been trying to….you know…" What on Earth is she talking about and why is she blushing? That girl is too shy for her own good! She's fully grown and married to boot and she still blushes when talking about having sex. Wait, why would they try having sex? They've been married for a year now. I feel like I'm forgetting something she's told us. And looking around, I can tell so has everyone else. I wonder….OH MY GOSH!

"Are you pregnant!" Ha I figured it out before them! See I can be just as smart, if not smarter than the rest. Ooo, I can already feel my brain getting bigger. Amy just nods, as squeals of joy escape from her mouth.

"Oh my gosh! You're going to have a baby! We're going to be Aunts!" Lita's right! We are going to be Aunts! We have to go shopping. We need aunt-stuff. Wait, is that right? Aunt-stuff? Or is it baby-stuff? Heh, baby-stuff. Yup and that would be my brain shrinking.

"Serena if you and Darien get married and have kids, you know what that means?" What on Earth is Amy talking about? Me? Have kids? Does she not remember what happened to my pet rock? While technically it wasn't my fault my dog ate him but I still feel terrible to this day.

"Kids? Marriage? You do know my name is Serena right?" I ask while pointing to myself.

"Our kids will be best friends. Just like all of us!" Wow, Amy sure is something. I'm too afraid to tell her differently based solely on the fact that pregnant women are known to violent outbursts.

"Hey! I think Chad and I will be married way before Serena. How come you want her kids to be friends with your kids before my kids?" Is Raye serious? What is wrong with these women? I haven't even slept with Darien but I'm already having his kid? Wow, that man must have some super- sperm.

"Raye I'm sure you and Chad will be married way before me and have beautiful children who will be wonderful friends with Amy's beautiful children." I smile happily at her hoping she doesn't see the look of 'you're absolutely insane,' I'm sending her.

"What about me?" Lita sounds angry. For once in my life I'm going to take a man's side. Women really are crazy!

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"That was one heck of a lunch huh Mina?" Mina and I are in my apartment getting ready for the Ball. We have about two hours and some how that doesn't seem like near enough time. Even though our make-up is done, our hair is done, and we have all our accessories picked out.

"Sere, do you think I'll ever meet Mr. Right?" Whoa! Where did that come from? Mina never questions that question. She always assumed she'd meet Mr. Right and then she'd become Mrs. Right. Then her and him would have a beautiful house in the suburbs with a pink picket fence and a little Chihuahua. She took the American dream and modified it to her standards. Hence the pink fence and a Chihuahua.

"What is wrong with everyone? We are so young, we have plenty of time to meet our Prince Charming." Uh-oh! Oncoming flash-back. 'Prince Alarming.' I still get shivers from that. Whatever demon spirit possessed Raye to say that I hope it got sent right back to hell.

"Easy for you to say! You bagged yourself a live one!" There is definitely something wrong with this situation. Mina is talking about a man in a degrading fashion and I'm not laughing my ass off. Sighing I walk over to where Mina is sitting and take her hands in mine.

"Mina trust me. You WILL find your Mr. Right. I know it. I mean how can you not. You know how beautiful you are." She starts smiling like I knew she would. She can't help but smile when someone comments on how beautiful she is. That's Mina. The humble girl. "And I didn't 'bag myself a live one.' I bagged myself a horny one." I say with a wink and a smile. Well it's true!

"Okay enough with the girl talk. Let's get ready for a party!" Hoorah. The party…I almost forgot about it. Not that I don't want to go with Darien. I changed my mind on that part. But am I really ready to see Steve and Carla again? I don't know if I can muster the strength to be civil to them, let alone prevent myself from bursting into tears. What have I gotten myself into?

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Two hours later and three near death experiences, Mina and I were fully dressed and raring to go. She left for the ball by herself. Even though I told her she could come with Darien and me. But she said something about not wanting to be a third wheel. Do not think me a bad friend for feeling this but I must say I was somewhat relieved that she declined my offer. It would be so awkward with Darien and I all over each other and Mina sitting opposite us trying desperately to act nonchalant.

Incase you were all thrown back by me openly admitting that I do in fact like kissing the man whom I had affectionately called the 'Slut,' I decided to just accept the truth. He knows it, I know it, and unfortunately all my friends know it. So there it is. I like kissing sluts. But only the really gorgeous, really sincere, male sluts.

I run into the bathroom for a quick check-up on my hair and my make-up, not to mention to make sure I didn't get any speck of dirt on my dress. I stare at my reflection for a moment. I ended up with my hair down but instead of my usual straight locks, I have medium-sized curls. Mina convinced me to curl my hair also. Although she did make sure I knew that SHE was wearing the old-school Hollywood curls. I also put two, shining pearl clips in my hair to hold my bangs out of my face.

My make-up is modestly done. A light line of eyeliner with some clear mascara. My mother always told me my lashes were thick enough that I didn't need colored mascara. Plus I hate how colored mascara always clumps on my eyes lashes. One time I had some mascara on and I jumped in the shower, forgetting I was wearing the eye make-up. When I got out of the shower I took one look in the mirror and down went my jaw. It looked like a tiny toy car left tread marks down my face.

I chose to wear light blue eye shadow and just a tint of white, sparkling dust, to wear on top of the blue. I hate using blush but I decide that I should have a little extra rosyness to my already rosy cheeks. Then I finished the look with a light pink lipstick with a clear shimmering gloss. With one last look at myself and a twirl in front of the mirror I exited the bathroom.

As if knowing as exactly when I would be ready, I hear a knock at the door. I can hardly contain the amount of butterflies that seem to be doing the mamba in my stomach. This is the defining moment. Will I open up or will this be yet another bust? I do like being an angry, cynical, self-sufficient, and not to forget, hot young woman but I think could warm up to the idea of having a man in my life. Yes, I do think it could be quite warm. Opening the door, I send a quick and silent prayer to whatever God is watching over me at that moment that everything goes smoothly.

"Wow…" Oops. Did I say that out loud? I really hadn't meant to, it just sort of came out. I hope he didn't hear that….and he's laughing. I glance upward, to where I just sent my prayer and give them my angry eyes. Well the rest of the night better go smoothly!

"That's supposed to be my line you know. If you keep taking all my charming comments, I think you may lose interest rather fast." Looking him up and down, I rather doubt his last comment.

"I really doubt that." I say with a sweet smile, hoping he hadn't notice the way I had just a second ago objectified his body. By the way he lifted his left eyebrow in a playful manner I suspect he did catch the glance I shot his body. I'll just let him chew on that thought for a little while.

"Are you ready?" He smiles at me and puts out his arm for me to take. I must say I really like this whole chivalry side of him. I rarely get a guy that has that side. Usually he only has the, gentlemen in public side and the horny guy in private side. Occasionally I find the one sided guy. 'Don't care where we are when I grope your body,' side. I don't really care for that one-sided guy. Call me crazy but I like the respectful ones! I know, what am I thinking!

I glance at his arm for a moment and then look to his face with a smile. It hit me then, with such force that I couldn't seem to get any words out. I am ready. The sincerity was just oozing from him. His smile, his eyes, and his words. I was finally ready to be happy and with a man!

"You know, I think I am." Smiling and arm in arm, we make our way toward the limo he has waiting for us. This night might just turn out all right.

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OOO a long chapter. Anyone happy? Well I can tell you that there is only one chapter left. I was tempted to put it into this one but I want really want to take my time with it. I already have it planned out so I know how it will go and end. There are two reasons I got this chapter out so quickly. The first like I had explained, Dennis. The second I am leaving for Maine, this weekend so I won't be updating for a few weeks. A month at most. Maybe not even that long. But trust it will NOT take longer than that. Okay well thank you for reading and please review. Tell me if I'm making a few of you happy. Until the last chapter!