"A Christmas party! Yay! I can't wait!"
Serena jumped about holding a card with "You are invited on December Twenty-fifth (that's a two months from now!) to Andrew's apartment at six o'clock p.m." Then she took on a serious tone.
"I better save up money," she squealed the rest," to buy you guys all presents! Who else is coming?"
"Well…"
The girls laughed nervously.
"All of us, Andrew, Rita, Chad, Greg, Ken, and…"
"And?" Serena prompted.
"Darien."
Serena froze and then smiled dangerously.
"That's funny, I swear I heard you say that Darien was invited too.'
The girls laughed nervously once more, waiting for the explosion. It came.
"WHO INVITED BAKA!"
They all ran away before Serena could pinpoint one of them.
That Friday Serena and the girls were talking about the party. Serena and Darien had their usual spat, which ended with Darien leaving. The girls left one by one until Serena and Andrew were left.
"Aren't you going to go home now Serena? There was a storm notice on the radio this afternoon."
"Don't worry mother! I'll be fine."
"Still…"
"Fine, I'll go home since you seem so eager to get rid of me."
She flashed a brilliant smile, which Andrew returned, shaking his head as she exited the arcade.
Serena walked calmly through the park. It was a nice day and she couldn't believe a storm was coming, until the wind started blowing. Then it started to pour. She ran toward home but her klutziness kept getting in her way and soon she was lost in the now dark park. She whimpered and tried to find shelter but there was none.
Andrew was getting ready to close up when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Andrew? This is Serena's mom. Is Serena still at the arcade?"
Andrew frowned.
"No, she left an hour ago. Isn't she home by now or at one of the girl's?"
The other was silent and Andrew felt the horror rising in him.
"Oh no…" he whispered.