Chapter 13: Somewhere In Between
cause I cannot stand still
I can't be this unsturdy
this cannot be happening
this is over my head
but underneath my feet
cause by tomorrow morning
I'll have this thing beat
and everything will be back to the way that it was
I wish that it was just that easy
cause I'm waiting for tonight
and then waiting for tomorrow
and I'm somewhere in between
what is real and just a dream
what is real and just a dream
what is real and just a dream
Before the early morning came, Serena was moved from her parents' home. She packed up everything she could with the help of her 4 friends. Darien borrowed a truck and waiting outside. He was not dared allowed into the house.
"Why are you leaving?"
"Sammy, I told you, I have to go now."
"But I don't want you to leave! This is our home and..."
"Hey, we will speak to each other everyday. I'll even stop by at school." Serena handed over her final box to Darien. Molly had rushed over to help pack with her car, since Serena's car was taken away by her father, while Darien loaded whatever was brought out. The girls left as the final box was done. Molly drove to drop off the boxes in her car. She wanted to leave Serena with a little time alone to say goodbye, she knew it was be hard.
"Ne pas aller!" Serena lifted Sammy. (don't go) He only spoke French when he was mad or upset like Serena, but refused to speak frequently, only out of respect with his grandparents.
"Nothing will change. Je promets! I promise you!"
"Come here, son!" Mr. West appeared at the door. "Now!" Serena glared at her father as she put Sammy down. He walked up to the steps. Serena's mother appeared at the door. She walked to Serena.
"Take it." She shoved an envelope to Serena's hands.
"Mommy, no!"
"Take it. It's all I have now, but if you ever need more..."
"Mommy, I'll be fine." Serena hugged her mother. Just as Darien opened the door for her, Sammy ripped from his father and rushed to Serena.
" S'il vous plaît, ne pas me partir! Je ferai n'importe quoi! N'importe quoi! Je ne vous ennerrai plus, le séjour s'il vous plaît! (Please, don't leave me. I'll do anything. Anything! I won't bother you anymore, please just stay) Serena hugged him. Serena cried as well. Darien rubbed her back.
"Look, I promise nothing will change." She pulled out a walkie talkie. "Anytime, day or night. You call me over this and I will be there."
"Can I come with you?"
"Not now, Sammy. Mommy and Daddy need you."
"J'ai besoin de vous." (but I need you)
"I know little man. And I am soo sorry, I can't stay." She carried him up to the steps. Serena's mother took him. " Je vous aime."
"I love you too." Serena kissed the back of his head.
"Bye Mom."
"Bye." Serena looked at her father.
"Goodbye Dad." She turned and left. Darien closed the door as she got in.
Darien found Serena crying on the balcony. He had paid the final guy that carried in her box. The last of her things brought in piled up in his living room and hall.
"I can't believe I moved out."
"I know." He hugged her. "Come on to bed." She looked up at him.
"Sammy was so sad. I always said I would never leave him. And I did."
"Serena, you had no choice."
"There's always a choice! What did I do so wrongly!"
"Nothing!"
"How can loving each other be so bad!" Serena asked.
"I don't know, baby."
"You didn't even ask me here..."
"You never have to ask to be with me."
"Living here. This is your home!"
"Now it's our home." Darien held on to her as they walked inside. Serena took a look at all her things piled up in boxes. Her belongings, everything she owned stored away.
"I'm taking up so much of your space..."
"No, this is our space now. Our home for now." He wiped the tears away and kissed her softly on the lips. He picked her up and carried to their bedroom. Darien softly laidSerena onto the bed. He kissed her softly. Darien stood up, pulling off his shirt and pants. He got on top of her in just boxers. He pulled off her top and pants. Darien kissed Serena's shoulders and neck. She sighed under his sweet kisses of passion. Darien lifted Serena up to the pillow, both naked, as he wrapped them in the sheets. Serena held his back, as he thrust inside her. They kissed hotly. Mouths opened, hot breaths exchanged. Serena moaned, her legs tight around him. Darien made love to her, wanting her to know she wasn't alone. He was here and he would be here forever.
Early Monday morning, it was April 1st. Darien stood in the principal's office.
"What is this?"
"My resignation."
"What?" The vice principal came into office. "Mr. Shields, you're quitting?"
"What, why?"
"I can't be a teacher, not right now."
"Is this because of the case?"
"Yes and more."
"What do you mean?
"You probably won't like to hear this, but Serena has moved out her parents home into my place."
"What!"
"Was Mr. O'Brien right?"
"NO! He tried to take advantage of Serena and that's a fact! Serena and I are staying togetherbecause she left her home."
"Don't you see how this will look if she is staying with you!"
"I know. But that's the situation now."
Serena arrived in the school. She came to her locker and found 'Teacher's Slut' in red. She looked around as people passed snickering.
"Don't mind them," Molly said.
"Is it true! Is Serena West boning Mr. Shields!" Serena went over to the boy and punched him.
"Serena, principal's office now!"
"Gladly!" She went to the office to find Darien handing over a letter. "What's going on?"
"I'm resigning."
"What?"
"It's best I do this now, Serena."
"But you can't leave!"
"I have to." She was crying. They hugged. "I have to go." She nodded and let go. "Goodbye." Serena watched him leave the office. She fell to a chair crying.
She arrived to the courthouse with Darien around 10 o'clock a week later. The jury was being set since the 2 lawyers couldn't come up with a solution so the case wouldn't go to trial. Darien and Serena simply held hands as his lawyer went through the jury list. By the end of the day, the jury was set. Serena had to leave early around 3 to catch up with her cheerleading team and train with them. States coming this weekend for cheerleading. After school bell, guys hooted at Serena as she walked to football field to lead the cheerleading team.
"Come on, show me what the teacher taught you!" After the 10th catcall, Serena blew her whistle.
"I have to go, Molly, take over."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, just go through the whole cheer. I just can't function today."
"No problem, I got this. You go home."
"I need to walk. I need to get the hell out of here." She picked up her bag and left. Darien got the call to pick up Serena. She looked flushed as he arrived. He carried her inside and laid her down to the couch.
"What do you need?" Darien asked.
"Nothing."
"You seem warm." Darien felt her forehead. "Your throat is swollen. Have you been sleeping good?"
"I'm okay. Just...tired I guess. Why didn't tell me you were going to resign?"
"Because I knew you would say no."
"How can you just give up?"
"As long as I am your professor, and you living here, my case will fail and I lose big time. No matter what we do, we have to make sure it's legit."
"I know."
After dinner, they laid in bed; Serena was working on a paper, as Darien finished up his work. Serena fell back into a bed. He pulled off his glasses.
"My head hurts." He saved her work and put her laptop to his dresser after closing his work.
"Get some rest. I'll do this."
"My paper?"
"Sure."
"No, it's ok. Just wake me in an hour." Serena covered up. Darien kissed her forehead, as she snuggled up and went to sleep. Serena woke up to see it was 9pm. She looked over at Darien working away. She stretched. Darien looked up at she got out of bed, and walked out the bedroom. He heard his PlayStation activated. Serena got a juice and turned it on. She needed a little fun to get her mind active. She put on 'Mortal Kombat'. Darien came out as she started playing.
"You are not seriously gonna do that instead of your paper?"
"Why not? I play computer games usually while working at home." She punched and kicked her opponent back. Darien shook his head. They ended up playing for 20 minutes. Serena pulled down Darien's jar of chocolate. She turned on the radio and brought her work from the bedroom. Darien tossed her cell as it rung. Serena picked up her phone.
"Yeah?"
"It's me?"
"Hey, Mols."
"Can you let me up, we gots a problem?"
"Sure." Serena slid on her flip flops. She went down to the door. "What's wrong?" Molly held up a box. Serena opened it. "Oh no!"
"They messed up our suits, how are we gonna get the new tops by Saturday!"
"I don't know!" They went inside. Darien came out from the bedroom to find the girls arguing.
"I'm gonna kill Kelly! I knew I shouldn't have trusted her!"
"What's going on?" Darien asked
"Look at our tops for State."
"Oh. Man, what did they do to them?" Darien lifted up the stretched out tops that seem to be bleached with spots. "Are they paying for this?"
"Of course not! But new suits takes at least a week to get here."
"Rush it, make it urgent. Don't you girls have extras!"
"Our school is not rich. We could wear the black and blue ones," Serena said.
"Our school colors are white and blue!"
"Molly, we can't change that. Let's just hope we get our suits for Nationals." Molly looked the place for the first time.
"Wow, he is loaded."
"Mols!"
"Sorry. How can you afford this on a teaching paycheck? Aren't you going to med school?" Molly asked.
"How rude, Molly. You don't have to answer that, Darien. Do you want a drink?"
"Uh, sure." Serena went into the kitchen. Darien went back into the bedroom.
"Did you finish the paper?" Serena asked.
"Yeah, you?"
"Working."
"Due tomorrow."
"Shut up!" Serena handed her the juice.
"So, how is living with a grown man, like home?"
"Somewhere in between. I feel home with Darien. Like everything will be okay."
"Good. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks." Molly looked at clock. "I do miss you."
"I know." Serena smiled.
"Have you been at home since.."
"No."
"Will you?"
"I don't know."
"Do you think your Dad will try to get Darien on charges for being with you?"
"I don't know. Since that silly resistraining order was dropped, I suppose so. I just hope Mom was able to convince him how foolish this all it. There is no telling with my Dad. I swear, I am just a baby in his eyes, nothing more. He will never see me as an adult."
"Have you seen Samuel?"
"I saw Sammy going to school this morning. He seems okay." Serena went to typing her paper. "I hope to maybe spent a couple of hours with him this week. Mommy says she'll try to work it out so Daddy won't know."
"I should get home."
"I'll walk you out. Don't stress about the suit, we will win State no matter what we are wearing."
"I know."
Darien looked up to see Serena come into the bedroom. She printed out her paper. It was just 11. She read some chapters for Science. Darien looked over to find her asleep with the book on her stomach an hour later. He smiled and clicked off the lamp beside her and moved the book aside. He covered her up and continued to study his work. Serena woke up to find Darien sitting up, his book his hand. She smiled and pulled off his glasses and moved his book on top of the dresser.
"Come on, baby," Serena said pulling his shirt off. Darien woke up.
"Huh?" Serena clicked off the tv and lamp.
"Nothing, time for bed." He laid down to her chest, putting his arms around her.
Darien went to court for the criminal charges of battery and assault brought against him for having no cause to attack him. Serena wanted to skip school, but he refused to let that happen. He didn't want her life interrupted by his case, though she was going to be called into questioning probably Wednesday or Thursday. Tuesday was Mr. O'Brien's lawyer brining up witnesses. Darien would roll his eyes as the witnesses praised Mr. O'Brien. He knew the true story. Mr. O'Brien sat there, with a smug look on his face as he looked at Darien, basically claiming how much of Serena wanted him and he could only assume Darien was jealous and attacked him.
Wednesday was Darien's lawyer's turn. Darien watched as his friends stood up for him, by mid-afternoon. He was called to the stand. Serena sat behind him watching. Darien was first made to explain his life, showing he was a law-abiding gentleman, having never done anything wrong in his life.
"Will you, Mr. Shields give us your account of what happened on Match 26th."
"Yes. I was stopping by because I forgot a book in my office, I wanted to use it forthis interesting lesson I was planning to give. Anyways, I heard a young girl screaming..."
"Ms. West?"
"I didn't know until I went into the closed classroom. I saw Mr. O'Brien on top of her and I rushed to get him off her. I punched him, and helped Ms. West off the table. I let my anger take over and we fought.I grabbed Mr. O'Brien by the collar. When he kicked me, I looked up to see Ms. West jump on him, but he slung her aside, so I tackled him and we fought again. The cops and Vice Principal came in. We were brought to the station for questioning."
"Thank you."
"Is it true that you and the Ms. West are currently living together."
"That is correct."
"Is it true that you are sleeping with her?"
"Objection!" Serena yelled.
"Your honor!"
"Ms. West, unless you are on the defense team, I will ask that your reframe from speaking aloud."
"Sorry, your honor."
"However, sustain."
"Fine. Wouldn't you say it was a bit odd to have a high schooler staying with you, especially...the alleged victim?"
"Objection! I find these questions not pending to the case. Mr. Shields witness an attack on astudentand went to the help the young Ms. West, that is all."
"I'm simply stating that the victim is now your bedmate..."
"Objection!"
"Ms. West, must I warn you again!"
"Your honor those questions are misleading and unnecessary. Living with Darien now has nothing to do with Mr. O'Brien attacking me!"
"Ms. West!"
"Sorry."
"Excuse me, may I ask the courts to take that person out."
"I must agree."
"What? Wait!"
"Ms. West you are excused." Serena was forced out.
"Your honor, is that necessary?"
"Yes, it is, counsel." Darien's lawyer sat down.
Serena paced back and forth, until the courts went into rest for the day. Darien came out.
"I am so sorry!"
"It's not your fault."
"Me and my big mouth!" Mr. O'Brien came out with his lawyer. He was smiling. "You are a lying bastard!" Darien had to pull her back.
"Calm down!"