Thank you for the reviews again! I'm taking longer to update cause I've been wicked busy.
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Chapter 40: Thoughts of Christmas
Serena sat on the couch, subconsciously twirling a strand of golden blonde hair around her fingers as she studied for an upcoming test. The more she tried to concentrate, the more her thoughts were get off track. She suddenly felt her phone vibrate, and she jumped and squealed in surprise.
Ami swung her chair around and looked amusedly at Serena. "You alright, there?" she asked, smiling.
Serena smiled back and nodded. "Phone scared me," she quickly answered and looked down at her cell.
It was a text message from Darien. She smiled to herself as she flipped her phone open to read the text:
Evenin' snookums! Yeah.. I know we never gave each other nicknames… anyways, just wondering how your day went with Rory, unless you're still with her. Love you.
Fr: Darien
December 3, 2005
Serena giggled to herself when she read the word 'snookums'. She shook her head and began to text back.
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Darien stuck his phone back in his pocket and waited aside with Andrew for their food. Andrew and Darien had arrived at McDonald's, thanks to Andrew's craving for burgers and fries. As they waited for their order to be finished, a group of teenage girls came bumbling in, all giggles and gossip. Immediately, some girls looked over towards Andrew and Darien and smiled secretively towards them, and turned to the nearest girl and started chatting away, occasionally throwing smiling glances their way.
Andrew paid no heed to the girls because he was busy focusing on the empty tray of food that the employees put out for his order. Darien, on the other hand, skimmed over the crowd of admiring young ladies, feeling a little awkward. He figured out they were some High School cheerleaders coming back from a cheerleading tournament.
Two bold blondes got out of line, giggling and blushing as they headed towards Darien and Andrew. Darien raised his eyebrows, smiling at their courage to approach older guys.
The girls came to a stop in front of Andrew and Darien. Darien smiled politely and elbowed Andrew at the side of his rib, who then turned around angrily. His anger subsided as soon as he saw two teenage girls in front of him. Andrew's face then contorted into bafflement.
Darien cleared his throat and crossed his arm across his manly chest. "Is there something we can help you ladies with?" he asked nicely, his blue eyes smiling at them.
Andrew started smiling too when he figured out what was going on. "Yes… anything at all?" he added.
One of the girls was much more blunt then the other one, slightly blushing. "We think you're cute," she said softly, flashing her pearly whites. The other one giggled and shyly looked down at the ground, clasping her hands together in front of her.
Darien and Andrew chuckled and thanked them, seemingly amused.
"Not too bad yourself," Andrew replied, smiling charmingly. He quickly glanced at his tray, and realized it was now ready. His eyes widened in happiness, and he quickly stepped aside," 'Scuse me ladies, but my stomach is calling me," and he grabbed his tray and walked off to find a table.
The girl who spoke earlier talked again," Can I have your number?" she asked boldly.
Darien, shocked by her sudden and random question, froze. "Umm.. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm off the market as of right now," he put into words nicely. "Plus, I don't think it'd be legal if anything ever does happen," he added in, smiling once again.
The girls blushed deeply in embarrassment and nodded, hurriedly running back to their friends due to rejection.
Darien grinned and shook his head as he picked up his tray of food. He then headed towards where Andrew was sitting. When he set his food down, his phone sang a little melody that a text has arrived for him.
"What they say?" Andrew asked as he shoved half a burger into his mouth.
Darien grinned as he took out his cell phone," They asked me for my number," he said amusedly.
Andrew stopped chewing and looked at Darien, wide eyed. "You serious?"
Darien took some fries and put them in his mouth as he nodded and flipped open his phone. "I told them it was illegal though," he said quickly chuckling softly.
Andrew smiled and shook his head as he dipped his fries in some ketchup. "Teenagers these days… they get bolder and blunter by the minute."
Darien flipped open his phone and read the text from Serena:
Hey Big papa. winks I had a lovely time with her. We got back 30 minutes ago. What are you doing right now? Love you too.
Fr. Serena
December 3, 2005
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Serena expected another text from Darien, but instead, she got a phone call.
She quickly picked up.
"Hey," she answered happily, her heart fluttering.
"Big Papa? That's the best you could come up with?" Darien joked.
Serena grinned. "I knew you'd like that," she teased.
Darien chuckled into the phone. "So what did you two do and talk about?" he asked quickly.
"You know… girl stuff," Serena answered, closing her study books.
"Should I be concerned?" Darien teased at the other end.
"Of course not! But I think I am… where are you two at? I hear lots of people in the background," Serena said, scrunching her face to try and figure it out.
Darien swallowed and then answered," Me and Drew are at McDonald's right now. What you're hearing is a bus load of teenage cheerleaders."
"Cheerleaders, huh? Trying to score younger ladies now, are we?"
"Har-har," he mocked. "No, get this. Two teenage girls actually approached me and Andrew. One of them asked for my number," he added gaily.
"What? And what did you say?" Serena asked, shocked and amused.
"What's a guy to do in a situation like that? I gave her my number of course," Darien answered seriously, smiling to himself.
"What!" Serena shrieked into the phone. "Darien! Teenagers? That's like rape!"
Darien chuckled. "No, I'm just kidding! Of course I didn't give them my number! I told them I was taken," he answered, laughter in voice.
"Good," Serena said snobbishly, grinning.
"Oh hey. I have a quick question. Am I supposed to get your parents something for Christmas? Is it one of those unwritten rules that come along with dating someone?" Darien asked, concern in his voice.
Serena laughed joyfully," No, silly. You don't have to get them anything. Unless you really want too, but don't waste your time and money."
"Alright," Darien said as he picked up his untouched burger. "Well I'll talk to you later then! I'm gonna eat. I'll call you later and we'll do something."
"Okay! Love you," Serena said sweetly.
"You too."
He hung up.
Serena suddenly thought about his question about Christmas. Oh my goodness! Christmas! What am I going to get him! She thought frantically.
Ami put her books away, and turned towards Serena, noticing her worried face. "What's up?" she asked suddenly.
Serena gave a sigh and rested her head on the couch's armrest. "Christmas is coming. I don't have any money. On top of that, I don't know what to get Darien," she mumbled. "What are you getting Brett, Ami?"
Ami's face fell into a frown as she thought about it, crossing her arms together. "I actually haven't given it much thought," she answered genuinely. "But I need to get him a really good present because that painting he bought me was ridiculously expensive," she said as she pointed to the painting Brett bought her on the wall.
"Exactly," Serena answered. "Buying guy's presents is hard…"
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"Buying girl's presents is hard," Darien said as he finished up his burger. "I have no idea what to get Serena! Roses are too… cliché. I don't think jewelry is right…"
"Dude," Andrew said as he waved his hand around," you're giving this too much thought. You gotta let the present find you. Ya know?"
Darien cleaned up around his area and nodded. "I know what you mean. But I still have to give this some thought. Girls like it when guys put thought into things they do for the girls," he pointed out, leaning back in his chair.
Andrew screwed up his face and nodded, patting his bulging belly. "Yeah, I guess that's true. Does that mean I have to get Raye something? I mean.. we're not official or anything.."
"You're in an easy setting," Darien started. "Get her roses. You don't have to actually 'buy' her anything just yet. Roses… a teddy bear…. You know. The beginning stages of a relationship."
"But I got her a bear at the Arts Festival," Andrew said quickly, frowning. "Roses sound good though. Girls dig flowers and smelly things."
"This is hard…" Darien scuffled.
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"This is hard, " Serena yelled to the ceiling. " I've never actually BOUGHT Darien anything!"
"I've never shopped for a guy before in my life," Ami said to herself, feeling a jolt of panic.
There was a sudden knock on the door, breaking the girls chain of thought. Serena hopped off the couch and trudged towards the door.
"I say we go shopping," Serena yelled back towards Ami as she reached for the door knob.
When Serena opened the door, Raye's smiling face came bombarding in.
"Sure! You may enter, Raye," Serena said sarcastically, closing the door after her.
Raye rolled her eyes and sat on the couch across from Ami. "What are you girls up to?"
Serena wobbled back into the room and collapsed in a heap next to Raye. "We're talking about Christmas and what we're getting the fellas."
"Let's go shopping!" Raye squealed," There's a sale going on in Victoria's Secret. Everything's 20 off," she said grinning at the thought of going to the mall.
Ami laughed and shook her head. "You came here to make us go panty and bra shopping with you?"
Raye shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah. And plus, we could figure out what to get the guy's," Raye said matter-of-factly.
"That's true," Serena agreed, smiling. "And plus…. I want a pajama bottom at Victoria's Secret."
Ami rolled her eyes at her friends and shook her head disapprovingly. "Oh the friends I've connected myself too," she joked.
"Come on, Ami! Live a little! Let's go buy some THONGS," Raye said loudly, laughing as she pulled Ami off of the chair.
"Or lingerie. For Brett," Serena teased further, grinning mischievously.
"Oh my gosh!" Ami shrieked, but smiling nonetheless. "You guys are sick…"
Raye and Serena laughed uncontrollably at Ami's shocked and disgusted face as they grabbed for their purses and jackets.
"We know you're not as innocent and pure as you pretend to be, Ami," Raye said she waited for the other two.
"Yeah. We know there's a seductive, sexy side of you just waiting to burst through," Serena added, swinging her purse over her arm.
"Oh god. You guys are going to get me into trouble," Ami said as she followed Raye and Serena out the door. "And I am NOT going to get any kind of lingerie for anybody," she added seriously, pouting.
Raye and Serena looked at each other, grinning knowingly. Well I know what I'm getting for Ami, Serena thought to herself, trying to suppress laughter. Or else I'll buy it, and put Ami's name on the gift and give it to Brett, she planned out even further.
This was going to be one memorable Christmas.
