The next day at lunch.
"Hey Serena!" Jerome said while walking towards Serena.
"Hey Jero what's up?" Serena asked with a smile.
"Nothing much I was going to invite you guys to my birthday party this Saturday, 7 pm at my place."
"YAY! Party!" Mina exclaimed.
"Finally! I've been waiting for someone to have a party for ages!" Lita said with a grin.
"You guys all coming?" Jerome asked looking at Serena.
Darien kept quiet and looked at Serena.
"Count me in!" Mina said.
"Me 2!" Lita followed.
"Me 3! Include Chad too!" Raye yelled.
"Hey Jero don't forget Amy and me!" Greg cried.
"Cool! What bout you Serena?" Jerome asked anxiously.
Serena gave Darien a quick look.
"Um I donno…"
"Oh come on! Sere! You have to come!" Mina pleaded.
"But I donno what to wear!" Serena complained.
"It's no big party you can where whatever you want doesn't matter!" Jerome said his eyes full of hope.
"Besides Sere we can go shopping together it's not a issue!"
"But…Oh alright I'll go but I need someone to come and pick me up if that's okay? Cuz Sammy's going out this weekend."
"I…" Jerome was in the middle of his sentence when Andrew cut him off.
"Hey Dare why don't you give Serena a lift?"
Darien gave Serena a look then Andrew a look.
"But I'm not sure if I'm going to go to the party or not…"
"Why not it's not like your gonna do anything special!" Andrew said.
"Yeh but still… Fine I'll go and I'll pick you up at six thirty" Darien said looking at Serena.
"Sure…" Serena replied not sure if it was good to go to the party.
"Well that's all set then! Let's go shopping tonight!" Raye said excitedly.
The girls went shopping and after hours of deciding they finally made up their minds to what they were going to wear on Saturday.
Amy brought a dark blue leather skirt with a matching jacket she also brought a boob tube to wear inside.
"You sure about this guys? Don't you think it's too showy?" Amy asked not so sure.
"I think you look gorgeous!" Mina exclaimed.
"Me too! I'm sure
Greg's gonna like what your wearing!" Raye said with a smirk.
Amy
blushed.
"Okay then…"
Lita brought a nice pair of green pants she also brought a boob tube to go with her pants.
"Lita isn't that top too showy?" Amy asked.
"I was thinking of that too!" Lita exclaimed.
"Nah! I think it looks good!" Raye replied giving Lita a wink of approval.
"I like it too!" Serena added.
Raye she chose a red mini skirt and a black slinglet to go with it.
"Do you think silver's better or black?" Raye asked.
"Mmm…. I think black looks pretty good!" Serena said.
"Yeh stick with black" Mina said.
Mina brought an orange skirt that had slits on the edge she also brought a yellow boob tube to go with it.
"I was going to buy red but I like yellow more do you guys think it looks okay?" Mina asked.
"I think yellow suits you more!" Lita suggested.
"Me too!" Raye added.
And last was Serena it took the girls a long time to persuade her into buying and wearing what they chose for her.
They chose a white mini skirt along with a baby pink tube top that showed off her nice stomach.
"I seriously think this is way too showy!" Serena complained.
"Not at all I mean look at Amy even she's wearing what she's wearing! If that even makes sense!" Mina said.
"But I look so weird
in what I'm wearing and walking around with crutches…" Serena
said looking down.
Serena was pretty confident most of the time
but some times she just can't help but see that she is different
from the others. No matter how normal she tried to be she was also
going to be different.
The girls looked at each other not knowing what to say.
"Hey girl! You look great what are you talking about! Besides you know that Jerome is after you and you know pretty damn well that Darien likes you too he just doesn't know how to express himself give him sometime!" Mina said while giving Serena a pat on the shoulder.
"That's right! You have to be confident!" Raye said giving Serena a big smile.
"Yep! Your no different from us!" Lita chirped.
"Exactly! You just need confidence!" Amy said.
Serena looked up at her friends and gave them a big smile she was very grateful that her friends were always there for her and that they will always support her.
Saturday Night
"Hey Serena! Andrew's here for me! I'll meet you at the party!" Mina yelled as she ran towards the door.
"Oh! Do I have to wait for Darien I'm so nervous! You sure I look okay! It's not too showy?" Serena asked nervously.
"Sere! Relax you look great just relax!" Mina said encouragingly.
"But…"
"Don't worry! Relax!"
"Okay…you better go! See ya later at the party!"
"Okay remember you look great!" Mina said as she opened the door.
Andrew stood at the door wearing a pair of jeans and a dress shirt. Andrew looked at Mina and was lost of words.
"Um…"
"What does that mean? I look really bad?" Mina teased Andrew.
Andrew broke out of his trance and smiled at Mina.
"It means you look great!" Andrew said taking Mina's hand into his own.
"Hey don't forget about me!" Serena said walking up to them.
"You look great too!" Andrew with a smile.
"Sure Andrew! I noe
Mina's the best in your eyes!"
They laughed.
"Andy we better go!"
"Oh do you guys have to go! Andrew can you just take me there!" Serena wailed.
"Nope cuz we've got Darien to pick you up! He's probably gonna arrive any minute we'll meet you there!" Andrew said as they started walking to their car.
"But…" Serena started but it was too late they had already left.
Serena sighed.
'What should I say to him when he comes? What if he thinks I look crap? What if he oh I donno' Serena had all these question going around in her head.
Suddenly the bell went.
'Oh crap! What should I say? Hello! How are you? NO! That's gay! Hey Wassup? But…oh stuff it!'
Serena took a deep breath before opening the door. As soon as she opened the door she saw Darien standing there looking hotter than ever! He was wearing black slacks along with a black dress shirt.
Darien and Serena stared into each other's eyes with out saying anything. It seemed like forever before being someone said something.
Darien cleared his throat before speaking.
"Um…you ready to go?" Darien asked.
Serena blushed slightly before nodding.
"Okay then…" Darien started turning around.
'Oh my god why is my heart thumping like mad!' Darien asked himself.
'Because she's so bloody hot!' his sub conscious self said.
'Shut up! I didn't ask you! I wont like her! I can't like her!' Darien starting to argue with himself.
'Darien was so hot when I opened the door!' Serena thought.
"Arg! Where's my bag!" Serena cried running back into the house.
Darien turned around and smiled at Serena.
'Always so clumsy!'
Serena ran back out with her bag before running to Darien and his car, but she slipped. Serena closed her eyes preparing to fall but she never did, she felt a pair of arms around her waist.
Serena opened her eyes and stared into Darien's dark blue eyes.
"You okay?" Darien asked.
Serena blushed then nodded.
"We better go then."
Darien said turning around.
Darien felt himself going red to but
tried to hide it.
The drive to Jerome's house was quiet Darien and Serena occasionally gave each other a look but didn't say anything.
Jerome's House
"Serena!"
Serena
turned around and saw the girls running up to her.
"Hey guys!" Serena greeted them walking away from Darien.
"Serena! You're here I thought you weren't coming!" Jerome said walking up to Serena.
Serena turned around and smiled brightly at Jerome.
"JERO!" Serena
squealed.
Jerome smiled and gave Serena a friendly hug.
Darien's face darkened he didn't' know why but he wanted to throw Jerome away from Serena.
"You look great today Sere!" Jerome said with a grin.
Serena looked down and blushed.
"Thanks…"
"Told ya Sere!" Mina exclaimed.
Serena continued to blush.
"Amy! Didn't you say you wanted a drink?" Serena asked trying to distract the other.
Amy looked up.
"I did?"
Serena walked up to Amy and pulled her away.
"Yes you did! Sorry Greg need to steal Amy for a sec!" Serena said as she walked away with Amy.
The others laughed.
"Thanks Ames I needed to get away from the others." Serena said sheepishly.
"Don't worry I know how you feel! So what do you think of Jerome?" Amy said with a smile.
Serena blushed slightly.
"A friend…"
"Just a as a friend? You sure?"
"Yep he's really nice and stuff but you noe I only like…"
Amy smiled and gave Serena a pat on the shoulder.
"So what would you like to drink? Fruit punch?" Serena asked.
"I'll just have orange juice if they have any?"
"Here Ames!" Serena said handing Amy her drink while getting herself a can of coke.
Suddenly someone tickled Serena her from behind.
Serena nearly dropped her can of coke and fall behind but someone catch her. Jerome started laughing.
"JERO!" Serena screamed.
"I didn't mean to make you fall!" Jerome said trying to act innocent.
Serena ran after him but slipped.
"ARH!" Serena
fell over.
Jerome ran back to Serena.
"I'm soooo sorry! You okay? I didn't mean to make you fall? You wanna go to the doctor? Do you need a bandage?" Jerome asked in a very serious voice.
"I'm okay I just grazed my knee."
"Sere! You okay?" Mina screamed as she ran towards Serena.
Serena tried standing up but she couldn't find her crutches. Jerome helped lift Serena up and handed her crutches.
"Yeh I'm okay don't worry."
"If Sammy knows he'll kill me! Here come and sit down you sure your okay?" Mina asked.
"Yeh don't worry I'm fine really! Don't worry bout Sammy I'll explain it to him that it was an accident anyway" Serena explained with a smile.
"You sure? Sere" Raye asked.
"I'll get Ken to take you to the hospital if you like!" Lita said.
"Yeh I'll take you!" Ken offered with a smile.
"Do you want me to have a look?" Amy said.
Darien didn't know what was going on but he walked up to Serena and saw her knee bleeding. 'What happened to Serena?' Darien looked at Jerome and clenched his fist.
"Guys! Don't worry I'm fine! Really I'm perfectly fine I just fell over I do it all the time anyway!" Serena said.
"I'm soooo SORRY! Serena I really didn't mean to do that! I didn't mean to make you fall it was just an accident I didn't mean to…" Jerome started apologizing.
"Don't worry Jero I'm fine really it doesn't hurt I just need a bandage then I'll be fine!" Serena said with an assuring smile.
"You sure?" Jerome asked warily.
"Yep now since you did this to me be a gentleman and help me sit down and get my a bandage."
"Sure!" Jerome said while helping Serena.
Everyone else just smiled and went back to partying.
Serena walked past Darien smiling at him but instead he just looked away.
'Wonder what's the matter?'
Jerome helped Serena to sit down on the couch while he went to get her the first aid box. Darien walked into the lounge room. Serena turned around and smiled at Darien.
"Hey Darien…"
Darien didn't even look at her he just continued to walk past.
'What did I do this time! Idiot!' Serena thought angrily.
Ring Ring Serena's mobile phone rang but it was in her bag. She tried getting it without standing up but it was to far away.
"Arg!"
Then someone came up and got Serena's bag for her.
"Just ask for someone to get it for you!" Darien said sternly.
Serena frowned and snatched her bag from Darien and glared at him. Darien just sat down across from Serena.
Serena picked her phone up and answered it.
Hello?
Hey Sis! You need someone to take you home?
Sammy! Nah I'll get someone to take me home don't worry
Sure?
Yep!
Okay but give me a call if you need someone to take you home kay?
Oki dokie talk laterz bye!
Bye Sis!
"You need someone to take you home?" Darien asked looking away.
"What does it have to do with you!" Serena snapped.
"I was just being nice! You don't have to snap at me!" Darien yelled back.
"Me snapping at you! You're the one who was ignoring me before! And making rude comments about me! I ignored you but you kept doing it!" Serena yelled.
Darien didn't know what to say.
"… Serena…look I'm sorry I was in a bad mood so I… didn't want to talk to anyone…" Darien said slowly looking at Serena.
Serena looked at Darien and saw that he was sincere. She forced a smile and then nodded.
"Sorry Sere took so long! I couldn't find the first aid box and then I had to go looking for it after that I had to go get you a bandage…" Jerome said as he walked to Serena.
"Don't worry bout it Jero thanks for helping me" Serena said with a smile.
Darien stood up and walked away before going he mumbled something very quietly but Serena heard it.
"I'll take you home at 11:30…"
Serena turned around to say something but he'd already left.
"Is everything okay Serena?" Jerome asked.
"Huh? Sorry I'm okay I was just daydreaming" Serena said sheepishly.
"Oh okay… All done you feel better now?"
"Yep! Thanks sorry
for making you worry about me…"
Jerome sat a little closer to
Serena and put her hand into his and looked into Serena's eyes.
"You really scared me when you feel over I would've never forgiven myself if anything happened to you…you're too important to me…" Jerome said his eyes never leaving Serena's.
"Serena I know this is really weird but I…"
Serena's eyes widened she didn't know what to say she really liked Jerome as a friend or even a brother but nothing else really.
"Ah! I'm thirsty I'm gonna go and get a drink why don't we talk bout this laterz? Serena said quickly trying to change the topic.
"Um…sure… Serena I want you to know that I'm prepared to wait till it's the right time…" Jerome said as Serena stood up and walked outside to the other girls.
"Hey Sere! You feeling okay now?" Mina squealed as the girls approached her.
"Yeh…" Serena said.
"You don't sound so good wanna talk bout it?" Lita suggested.
Serena nodded.
"Why don't we find a quiet place so we can sit down and talk." Amy said while pointing to a quiet spot under a tree.
"Good idea Ames!" Raye said as they walked to that place.
"Now spill Sere!" Mina said excitedly.
Serena sighed.
"Jerome kinda just told me that he liked me…"
"WHAT!" All the girls gasped.
"Shhh! I noe guys I noe! But you know I only like Darien and I'm not planning to go out with Jero he's a great friend and he'll probably a great boyfriend but not to me…" Serena said with a sigh.
"But seriously Sere Jero's a pretty decent guy if you ask me don't you think Mina?" Raye asked.
"I agree! I mean true that Darien and you make a great couple but you and Jerome make a cute couple too why don't you give him a chance I mean it never hurts to try!"
"I noe…but I just
don't like him that way if you know what I mean he's a friend and
nothing else it's just like Ames would you ever go out with
Andrew?"
Amy blushed and shook her head.
"Of course not! He's just a friend!" Amy explained.
"Exactly I just don't like him that way…" Serena sighed again.
"I think Serena's right there's no point in going out with someone you don't really like cuz in the end you'll end up hurting both yourself and the other person." Lita said giving Serena an assuring smile.
"True we'll what ever your want to do we'll always support you!" Mina said giving Serena a pat.
Serena smiled gratefully.
"Thanks guys I think I'll tell Jerome that I won't like him and that I only want to be friends with him."
All her friends just smiled and gave her a hug.
The party finally ended at around eleven.
"Serena do you need a lift?" Raye asked.
"Nah don't worry Darien said he'll give me a lift" Serena said with a smile.
"REALLY!" Mina yelled.
"Yes! Mina calm down no need to be so excited!"
The guys walked up to the girls and were ready to take them home.
"Serena would you like me…" Jerome started but Serena stopped him.
"No thanks Darien's gonna take me home." Serena said with a smile.
Jerome looked at Darien.
Darien nodded.
"Yeh I'm taking her home just thought I'll be nice since I drove her here I might as well drive her home."
"Oh…Okay then I hope you had a great time…" Jerome said disappointedly.
"I had a great time I'm sure everyone else had a great time too," Serena said with a smile.
"Yep your party was great Jero!" Lita exclaimed.
"Agreed it was great!" Raye said.
Jerome smiled at them and thanked them before they left.
Serena went into Darien's car and sat down quietly no one talked but Darien broke the ice.
"How's your knee?"
Serena looked at Darien and smiled.
"Its okay just stings a little"
Darien nodded.
"Jerome asked you out didn't he?" Darien asked not looking at Serena.
Serena was shocked she didn't know that everyone else knew about it.
"Um…I…um…donno if you would call it asking out but…he said he likes me…we'll um kinda…" Serena said blushing.
"Oh…" Was the only thing Darien said.
"What do you think…"
Serena didn't know what to say.
Serena shook her head.
Darien didn't say anything he just nodded; the rest of the drive was in silence.
Serena secretly smiled she didn't know what it meant but she was happy that at least Darien cared and he asked, it was enough.