Okay, so I'm back and unusually quick with this update, but like I said before, the other day I had a writing spree.. Until about two in the morning… sigh I hope you like this story so far. And don't worry, it is a Serena/Darien fic. As to whether it'll have a happy ending… I hope but I don't know yet! Hehe I just let my stories take me where they will.

So without further stalling.. Here's the next chapter!

She froze. She felt her heart turn to ice. A coldness not caused by the icy rain ran through her veins. Her eyes narrowed, her fists clenching of their own accord, as If they might strike out at what was killing her inside.

She started as the front door of the small house opened. She felt vulnerable and hopeless standing by the road in the pouring rain. She saw his silhouette against the light spilling out of the open doorway, assuring her of him truly being there… And then, behind him she saw the girl she couldn't help but despise and admire at the same time.

She couldn't take it anymore…

…So she ran…

.:-:.

Chapter 7

Darien got into his car, cursing the rain and this entire day. This day had started out as happy enough… What happened?

But he knew what had happened….

…She looked so hopeless, so devastated…

He could still feel her eyes calling out to him, begging him to help her…

"Oh, Serena…" he whispered sadly.

Shaking his head, he glimpsed something on the side of the road.

-It couldn't be…-

The rain had to playing games with his vision… With his mind.…

But as he got closer, she was still there.

Darien slammed on his brakes, trying his best to stop. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating her silhouette.

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Her head jolted up and her eyes widened in fear. As thunder crashed around her, she saw the glint of something big and red heading towards her.

A car? She wondered momentarily.

A car! A appreciation for the situation had her scrambling to her feet and away from the curb she had been sitting on.

She heard the squeal of the tires as the driver of the car was obviously (at least hopefully!) trying to stop. Unfortunately, the car had begun hydroplaning on the inches of water that flooded the road.

Eventually, the car did stop. Serena heard a door open and then an ebony-haired head appeared over the hood of the car.

"Serena?"

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Serena was sure she must've hit her head harder than she thought she had. After following her instincts to follow Darien had led her running even further… Away from him… She had slipped and hit her head on an 'oh-so-conveniently-placed' stop sign. After a few more steps, she had felt her heart and head pounding too much, and her ears ringing. She had sat down on the curb of a sidewalk to catch her breath and clam her thoughts. And now? Well, now Darien had seemingly tried to kill her by either giving her a heart attack or hitting her with his car, both of which she was sure he'd almost accomplished.

She stared across the way at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to remain cool, calm, and collected.

He smirked. "Does it really matter? Besides, I think I should be the one asking the questions."

"Oh, and what makes you think that!" she said, defensively.

"Because I'm not the one sitting in the rain, alone, blocks from my house."

"Well…" she started, but she couldn't conjure up a good come back. He was right, she supposed.

"Do you want a ride home?"

She found it oddly funny how he had said "want" rather than "need." She obviously needed a ride. She wanted so badly to turn him down, after all, was out here and even further than she had ever wanted to be in the soaking rain because, after her urge to follow after him, she had wanted to be as far away from him as possible. However, the thought of walking all those blocks home in this weather was not one she truly wanted to entertain.

Grudgingly, she accepted his offer.

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The ride to her house was awkward to say the least, however Serena found a strange pleasure in seeing the calm, cool, collected, Mr. Mysterious with white knuckles, wide eyes, and a firm concentration on the dangerous road ahead of him.

Suddenly, Serena wondered if she could ever make him that flustered, yet in a different way altogether. Her eyes widened and a heat rose to her cheeks. How dare she even think such thoughts? Instantly she was glad that driving took up all of Darien's attention so he hadn't noticed.

After about a 15 minute ride, they finally reached their destination. Darien, being the gentleman he was, walked Serena to her door. Serena looked out at the storm and felt suddenly awkward and nervous, but she had already made up her mind. After all, he had already been so kind and such an unexpected help, she should return the favor the best she could.

"Darien, won't you stay until the storm is over? I can't, in my right mind, allow any one to continue out into this storm…"

"After you yourself ran out alone in a thunderstorm?" he asked, a bit jokingly.

"Okay, so that was a bit.. foolish.. But I had my reasons!" Serena said, not wanting him to win.

"But the storm may last over-night…"

"That's alright…"

Darien raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"What I meant to say," Serena said, feeling her turning about the color of the stop sign that she had collided with earlier, "was that we have a pull-out bed in the couch… and.. And I have a lock on my door!" she finished defiantly.

"I see," Darien said, an amused smirk starting to creep onto his face.

"Well, are you coming in or not!" Serena asked, getting irritated as he took pleasure from her agitated.

With one side of his mouth still twitching slightly as he tried to contain his amusement, he followed her inside…

.&.

Oh.. Risqué! Hehehe Don't hurt me! Naw don't worry, if you know Darien you know he truly is a gentleman… right? I hope you liked this chapter, and hopefully it made you feel a bit.. Ermm.. Happier, I guess, than the last chapter. Yeah, this chapter is a lot different than the rest. I guess I just wanted something less painful. Please, if you get a chance, leave me a comment! Long or short they make me smile! ß in fact a smilely face would be just fine! Hehe I promise to try to put the next chapter up as soon as possible.. That is, as long as the new puppy doesn't ruin my journal! XD

Love! Thanks for staying with me this far!

.:PhoenixFeathers:.