CHAPTER 4

"I'm bored, bored, bored and BORED!" I complained to Ami as I fell back onto the bed. "I have no friends. I'm a loner. I'm probably going to turn out like one of those ancient baggy ladies who have no life."

"Sere, what are you talking about? You have lots of friends here in Hamilton! Or have you already forgotten about us?" Ami questioned.

"Oh, come on. You know I don't mean it like that, hun. It's just that I have no one to chill with in Miami." I explained. "School doesn't start in two more weeks and the only person I know who's close to my age is the driver, Melvin."

"Okay," Ami sail slowly "So why don't you hang out with Melvin? Go to the movies with him. Or even better head to the beach."

"Ames, are you out of your mind? Melvin and I are not that close. Besides, if I asked him, he would probably think I'm asking him out on a date or something." I rolled my eyes "I know what you're thinking- He's NOT boy friend material."

"Not even a little?"

"NO!"

"Well, I'm sure he has a nice personality. You shouldn't care what a guy looks like on the outside, Sere. What matters is what's on the inside."

"You've told me this like a gazillion times. But trust me when I say this: Melvin. Is. Not. Boyfriend. Material."

Ami laughed. "Okay. I'll lay off on this one. So are there any other cute guys?"

"How the hell would I know?" I rolled on to my back "I haven't had a chance to properly look. I've only been here like two days. I did see Darien, though. I suppose he could be considered cute. But don't tell him I said that"

"Darien? Darien Shields? The same Darien who apparently drove you crazy? He was all you could talk about when you first came to Hamilton."

"Oh please! That was SO ten years ago!" I studied my nails.

"Sere…"

"What?"

"Wasn't Darien your first kiss?" Ami giggled.

"OH. MY. GOD." I shot up straight "Don't EVER bring that topic up again. I can't believe you would remind me. I still haven't properly recovered from that damn kiss. What was he THINKING? I was like seven years old. I should have charged him with child molestation or something."

"Darien was a kid, too. How can you charge a kid with child molestation?" Ami laughed.

"No comment" I muttered.

"Wow sere, you're in serious denial. I suggest you do something about it. Anyway, I have to go now. Greg's picking me up in an hour to go to the movies."

"Thanks a lot, Ami. Ditch me for the boyfriend" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not ditching you, doofus. You need to get out there and mingle. Maybe then you'll actually find some friends. Or even better, a boyfriend."

I could practically SEE Ami winking through the phone.

"Yea whatever." I mumbled. "Call me later."

"I will. Love you"

"You too."

I clicked off the phone and closed my eyes. SINGLE AND READY TO MINGLE.

Flashback

"Matt!" seven-year-old Serena hollered. "Darien's bugging me again"

"Am not! If you would quit being such a baby about everything, then maybe we'll let you in our secret club" Darien smirked.

"I don't wanna be in your stupid club. All you guys do is dig up worms and look at half-naked women. I'm gonna make my own club. It's gonna be so much prettier than yours." Serena stuck her tongue out at him.

"We'll see about that. Guys are stronger than girls. We'll beat you up."

"Nuh-uh. Matt wont let you. I'll ask him and Justin and Jake to protect me."

"Your brothers can't always protect you."

"Can too"

"Can not"

"Can too"

"Can not"

"Yes"

"No"

"Yes"

"No"

"YES!"

"OOOW!" Darien fell to the ground, grabbing his shin. "You kicked me!"

"Serves you right for being mean to me." Serena stuck her tongue out at him and grinned.

Darien got up and walked slowly towards Serena, with a look in his eyes that wiped the grin completely off her face.

Shrieking, Serena dashed off as fast as her little feet could carry her.

Darien soon caught up to her, snatching her off her feat and swinging her over his shoulders.

"Aaaah! Put me down you jerk" Serena screamed kicking her legs and struggling as much as she could.

"Not until you tell me sorry."

""Fine! I. Am. Sorry. NOW PUT ME DOWN!"

"You still have to do something for me. Then I'll forgive you."

"I'm not doing anything for a creep like you."

"Then I guess I wont put you down."

"Nooo. Darien. Please don't be mean."

"You kicked me! This is all your fault."

"Fine! What do you want me to do?"

"Kiss me"

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat! Not way! I'll get pregnant." Serena shrieked.

Darien started laughing. "Who told you that?"

"I'm not completely stupid, you know. When a girl and a guy kiss, the girl always gets pregnant. I've seen it on TV. The girl and the guy kisses, and then BAM! She's having a baby."

"Wow princess, no wonder your hair's blonde. That's not how it works. A lot of stuff happens after that. They just don't show you that stuff on TV because then little girls like you will get grossed out."

"Fine! I don't care. Now put me down. I'm getting dizzy."

"Only if you agree to kiss me."

"Are you sure I wont get pregnant?"

"Of course I am. I know everything." Darien puffed out his chest. He slowly lowered Serena onto the ground. "Okay. Now all you have to do is close you eyes real tight, pucker you lips and lean in towards me. On the count of three."

"Wait"

"What?"

"How long are we supposed to kiss?"

"For five seconds."

"Five whole seconds?" Serena's eyes widened.

"Yes" Darien said impatiently "On the count of three…One. Two. Three."

Serena shut her eyes real tight and puffed out her lips and bent forwards…

"Serena! You're supposed to lean in towards ME, not the ground."

"Well how was I supposed to know where you were? My eyes where CLOSED, remember? I can't see with my eyes closed." Serena grumbled, getting up and brushing off the grass off her shirt.

"I don't know why I put up with you. You can leave your eyes open until the last moment. Ready?"

"Yup"

"Okay. One…Two…Three."

Serena leaned in towards Darien and pressed her mouth to his. She made sure her eyes were closed real tight and that her lips were as puckered as it could possibly be. Suddenly, she felt something warm and wet brush against her lips. Her eyes shot open.

"Ooooow! Serena! You kicked me again!"

"Well, you put your tongue against my mouth. Now I have your cooties." She shuddered.

Darien rolled his eyes. "Ooooh! You have cooties now that you kissed me. Honestly Sere. You are such a baby!"

"Then why did you kiss me?"

"Just experimenting. Besides, you kiss like a little girl. Beryl kisses like a real woman." Darien smirked.

Serena scowled and swung her leg hard. But this time, she made sure it landed right between the legs. People might think of her as dumb, but she knew that whenever somebody hit guys between their legs, it seemed to hurt a lot. It worked, too. Darien collapsed on the ground, his face twisted in pain.

"I might kiss like a little girl. But I kick like a woman" Smirking at Darien's form on the ground, she flipped her long blonde hair and marched off.