A.N: LOL Sorry about the Author's note and getting your hopes high. Well here's the next chapter!

How was your Thanksgiving break!

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Chapter 27: Reuniting

Darien and Serena headed back to California that Saturday. The family spent the rest of the time getting to know Darien and taking him around places and letting him experience the full "New York lifestyle". Ken didn't want to fully admit it, but he liked Darien.

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"Did you enjoy your Thanksgiving break?" Serena asked as the airplane flew thousands of feet above the earth. Her hair was in it's usual meatball form, and she had on a green zip-up hoodie. She leaned her head and rested it on Darien's shoulder.

Darien smiled down at her and rested his on top of hers. "The best one so far," he answered.

"Good," she whispered, beginning to doze off.

Serena and Darien didn't make it back to California until 7 p.m. that night. They were tired, but also very glad to be back. On the drive back to the campus, they saw Christmas lights already displayed on some houses.

"Aw, it's pretty," Serena squealed as they drove past some houses. She looked happily out the window, admiring the flashing lights, and waving Santa's.

Darien chuckled as he glanced at her. "It's like you've never seen Christmas lights before," he said.

"No, I just love Christmas. I love everything about it! The smell, the weather, the lights, the colors… and the food! Oh, I love the food," she said grinning as she settled back down in her seat.

"Speaking of food, I'm starved!" Darien suddenly realized.

"Oh, me too. But let's go back and see if Ami wants to come eat with us! I miss her," Serena said, thinking back on her intelligent friend.

"Alright. I'll see if Drew wants to come with," Darien added.

They pulled on to the campus around 7:40. There were people all over the campus, obviously just making it back from their break.

Serena got out of the car and helped Darien unload the car. She exhaled, and she could see her breathe, puff into a cloud of smoke. She smiled, purposely exhaling to see smoke come out of her.

Darien watched her and raised his eyebrows, smirking. She's so cute when she does things like that.

Serena turned to Darien and grinned. She brought her fingers up to her mouth, and inhaled, then exhaled; pretending like she was smoking. Then she giggled.

Darien laughed. "Goof ball," he joked as he closed the car trunk. Serena pouted, then ran up to him and kissed sweetly on the lips.

"Call me names and you won't be getting anymore of those for awhile, buddy!" She teased as she ran ahead of him.

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Serena burst through her dorm room, Darien trailing behind her.

"Ami!" She yelled as she dropped her bag by the door, making Darien trip over it.

Ami's head poked out from the bathroom, smiling. "Serena!" she squealed happily.

The girls embraced each other, screaming like little five year olds.

Darien watched them and rolled his eyes, smiling slightly.

"Oh, I missed you! How was your break!" Serena asked as they let go of one another.

"It was wonderful! How about yours?"

As the girl commenced in their reunion and gossip, Darien went across to his room.

He opened the door, and there stood his best friend, unpacking his things.

"Darien!" he yelled happily as he went over to give his best friend a hug. "How were the parents?" he asked as they parted.

"They were great," Darien said grinning. "How were yours?"

"Oh, they're the same. They said they missed their Dare Bear," Andrew joked as he went back to his unpacking.

The two sets of best friends got reacquainted as they all went out to get dinner with one another at Boomerang's.

"I'm so glad to be back," Serena said as she took a seat at a table.

"Oh me too," Ami said as she scooted in next to Serena in the booth.

Darien and Andrew sat across from them, involved in their own little conversation.

Serena looked at them two, then leaned in and whispered," They're cute together, aren't they?" she joked to Ami.

Ami laughed. "They're perfect. Pretty as a picture."

Serena smiled. "So, how are you and Brett?" she asked, remembering that them two were an item.

"We're good! He called me everyday over the break, and we would talk for hours at a time," Ami said as a waitress brought over their menus. "I really like him," she said as the waitress walked away.

"I'm so happy for you two," Serena said, her eyes twinkling with joy.

Ami smiled and blushed slightly. "I still can't believe we're together!"

"Well believe it, cause it looks like you two are gonna be together for a long time."

Ami grinned happily. "Tell me about you and Darien! Did he past the Daddy test?"

Serena smiled secretively, and lowered her voice as she said," Yes! I think he did! It took my dad awhile to warm up to him, but he finally cracked! I knew my family would like him," Serena said as she looked over at Darien, who was laughing at something Andrew had just said.

"Aww," Ami said, her face getting softer. "That's wonderful! I told my parents about Brett over the break. They were shocked at first, then they were really excited and happy for me."

"Well that's good! Maybe you could invite him over your house for Christmas," Serena suggested.

"I was thinking about it, but I'm not sure. I still want to get to know him better," Ami said.

The two set of friends got interrupted when the waitress came and asked them for their orders.

They all filled in on one another's break while they ate. They laughed, made jokes, and talked.

"Oh! I am STUFFED," Serena proclaimed as she slid out of the booth after Ami.

"Me too. They make good chicken tenders," Ami said as she patted her stomach.

Darien grabbed Serena hand as they all walked out together, talking.

As they walked out, a girl walked in.

"Darien?" the girl asked, shocked.

Darien stopped in his tacks and looked at the girl. "Rory?"

Serena looked from her to Darien. The girl was very beautiful. She had long, beautiful brown hair, and her eyes were bright green. Her eyelashes were full and thick. She was curvy in all the right places. She wore a cute v-neck, long sleeved shirt, with dress pants and high heels. The color of the shirt made her eyes seem even more green then it actually was. She looked like she stepped out of a magazine.

Andrew looked at her, and he seemed to finally register who she was. "Rory! How are you doing? What are you doing here?" he asked, looking happy, then confused.

The girl saw Andrew, and smiled immediately. "Andrew! I'm fine! Well I transferred to UCLA. I won't actually be going here until next semester, and I was just going in to get a to-go meal. How are you?" she asked Andrew.

Serena still had her hand in Darien's. She could tell Darien felt a little uncomfortable, and he tensed up a bit.

"Who is she?" Serena whispered to Darien as Andrew talked to her.

"Uh…. She… she's my ex-girlfriend."