A.N: Sorry about the VERY long wait. My life has been crazy! Graduation… prom… planning things, doing things…. But I'm back and at it!
I need help and suggestions on what Serena and Ami should get their boyfriends. It needs to be sentimental and whatnot. So email me or leave me a comment and I'll pick the one I like best! Thank you so much!
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Chapter 42: Doubt
Serena sat in class with Raye and Brett sitting on either side of her, both concentrating painfully at their computer screen while Serena pondered about far-off things. Alright, maybe it was not so far-off after all. She was thinking about Christmas and what to get her family and friends. One could say Serena was anal about buying presents. She wanted them to be surprised when they got their presents, gasping and jumping with joy. It always brought a smile to her face when she saw the utter shock and disbelief of her family and friends when they opened their presents from her. It was easy to shop for friends and family. The only problem is is that it's not easy to shop for her boyfriend's present.
Serena rested her chin in her palms, sighing loudly as she thought about presents. She endlessly looked through catalogs and magazines to see if anything caught her eye for Darien, but none did. Nothing seemed 'special' enough.
Brett glanced quickly over at Serena, noticing her placid face. He leaned over towards her, and said quietly," You're going to fail if you don't get started."
Serena jumped in surprise, her heartbeat quickening by fright. "Oh… you scared the shit out of me!" she said rather loudly, making some heads turn. "Don't you EVER do that again," she warned. "I think my blood pressure just shot up…"
Brett rolled his eyes, obviously amused. "You seem perturbed by something ," he whispered, all attention on her now.
Serena scratched her head subconsciously, frowning," Yeah. I just don't know what to get Darien. Christmas break is in a week and I still haven't found anything yet!"
Raye leaned over towards the two of them, her face looking angry. "Will you two shut it? I'm trying to finish this design!"
Serena looked towards Raye, smiling slightly at Raye's annoyed faced. "Is someone a little stressed?" Serena teased.
Raye turned back to her screen, glaring at it intently and replied," You're going to be really 'stressed' if you don't leave me alone and shutup."
Serena giggled and shook her head, turning her attention back to Brett. "Anyways… you got any ideas on what I should get Darien?"
Brett shrugged and looked back to his computer as well," Not my problem. Besides it has to be your idea and no one else's." He was back to work.
Serena scowled in frustration and crossed her arm, staring back at the blank computer screen. This is totally unfair, she thought to herself. It's easy to shop for girls, but for guys it's like climbing Mount Everest! She sighed one last time, and got started on her assignment.
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Darien lounged in his dorm, his mind swirling with thoughts about the present he got Serena. He had a hundred scenarios on how Serena would react when he gave her her present. He constantly kept the jewelry box in hand, opening it every few seconds to look at it. His eyes traced the engraved lettering on the necklace- True Love. He wondered how she would react to the necklace. Would it seem like too much, too soon? They'd only been together for three months, so would buying a necklace, displaying the words "True Love" seem a little overdone?
Darien's mind lingered on that thought all day long. He bought the necklace sometime last week, but started having doubts. And what would her parents think? He was going to spend Christmas with her and her parents, just like how he did during Thanksgiving. Would her parents be afraid that their relationship is progressing this quickly?
Darien's thoughts were soon marred as Andrew bounded in the room, seemingly excited. He put his things down next to the desk, and plopped down beside Darien, smiling to himself.
"Listen to this," Andrew started, his hands out in front of him fervently," I am going to take Raye on an air balloon ride at night. The stars will be up, the city lights will be glowing, and then I'll ask her to be my girlfriend!" he finished, looking at Darien for approval.
Darien nodded, smiling," It'll definitely be hard for her to turn you down," he replied swiftly. Darien opened the jewelry box again and stared back down at it, his doubt and reluctance swirling back into his thoughts.
Andrew looked at the necklace and back up at Darien. "She's going to like it, you know," he said knowingly.
"How do you know?" Darien asked as he closed the box again for the hundredth time.
"Girls… they're suckers for shiny things," he joked. "Nah, I'm kidding. But she will, I just know. Why are you so worried about it anyways?"
Darien shrugged and answered," Her reaction… what she'll think… everything. And I've never spent so much on a girl… okay.. maybe I have, but not on jewelry, ya know? This is, to me, a really sentimental gift. It's how I feel, so if she rejects it… " he paused.
Andrew frowned, trying to understand. "You're afraid she's going to reject your gift?"
"That's part of it," Darien murmured, looking a little embarrassed by his honesty.
"Dude, she's not going to reject it. She's in love with you, man. If anything she'll freak out and throw herself on you," Andrew reassured his friend.
Darien sighed and got up to go put the box away safely. He turned back to Andrew and nodded," You're right. Thanks Drew. This is going to be a pretty interesting Christmas though."
Andrew grinned and nodded. "Yep! Sure is, looking forward to it."
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Serena checked her phone as she walked out of class. It blinked "One missed call". She flipped her phone open and looked at the number- - it was Rory. Serena frowned, confused and perplexed.
Serena pressed talk and it redialed Rory's number.
Ringing one.
Ringing twice…
Picked up.
"Hello?" a sweet voice filled Serena's ear.
Serena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear," Hey Rory, it's Serena. I saw that you called so I'm calling you back. What's up?"
"Hey Serena! Yeah, I did call! I was just wondering if you'd like to do any last minute Christmas shopping with me. I'm headed to the mall later on today," she said enthusiastically.
Serena's thoughts reeled back to Darien, answering quickly," Yes! That's a good idea. I need to buy some presents. So you wanna just meet at my dorm then?"
"Sounds like a plan! See you at five," Rory replied.
"Alright! Bye."
Serena let out a drawn out sigh as she kept walking. The cold air outside made her breathe turn into a puff of visible heat, dissipating quickly. It wasn't as cold as New York, of course, but California was getting fairly chilly, making her miss home. She was suddenly glad she'd be coming home soon.
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When Serena reached her door, she saw that Darien was waiting for her outside; leaning against the wall, a leg propped up against it as well and hands in his pockets. He seemed distracted, not noticing her coming towards him at all. His dark hair fell into his blue eyes as he focused.
Even having been with Darien for awhile, he still made her heart beat faster when she was around him, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She noticed that her breathe caught in her throat as she neared him, happy to see him.
Darien suddenly looked up, noticing her for the first time. His face immediately broke into a smile, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "Hey," he greeted gently, pushing off the wall to join her.
"Hey yourself, stranger," Serena smiled as she stuck her key in the door and opened it. "Why were you waiting for me?"
"I couldn't wait to see you," he answered truthfully, making Serena blush. He grinned when he saw her cheeks flush.
She went inside first and held the door open for him as he followed in after her, walking comfortably to her dorm couch. After she set her things down, she walked over to him and sat leisurely in his lap, smiling.
He wrapped his arms around her and asked," How's your day been?"
She rested her head by the crook of his neck and whispered," Good. Yours?"
"It just got better," he replied, smiling. He then looked up and realized Ami wasn't there. "Where's Ami?" he wondered.
"She has an evening class. She won't be out until three," Serena answered, lifting her face from him and looking up towards his face.
His eyes met with her piercing blue ones and held it, making her entranced. "Are you ready for Christmas?" he suddenly asked, snapping her back to reality.
She smiled again, nodding," Yeah. I miss my family. I'm glad you'll be there with me though," she confessed, wrapping her arms around his neck now.
"Yeah?" he asked, smirking goofily.
Serena scrunched her nose, teasingly," Yeah."
He chuckled lightly and leaned in to capture her lips, taking her breath away. She kissed him ardently, pulling him in closer, her hands snaking their way to his hair and she shifted her body to deepen the kiss. She was enjoying their intimacy, but he gently pulled away, breathing a little heavier then before. Serena opened her eyes, looking a little dazed and confused, her lips already starting to swell.
When his breathing was calmer, he leaned his forehead to rest on hers, eyes closed. "You make it so hard," he whispered.
Serena frowned," What's hard?"
"To stop," he answered, smiling. He pulled his face away from hers and looked at her lovingly.
"I'm sorry," she murmured apologetically.
Darien chuckled again," It's not your fault."
Serena smiled at him, inches away from his face. So tempting, she thought to herself as her eyes fell to his lips.
Just when she was about to give into her senses, he asked," What are you doing today?"
"Oh," Serena said a little startled. "Oh… I'm going to do last minute Christmas shopping with Rory."
At the mention of Rory's name, Darien's grip around her loosened, and his eyes screwed together and he tensed up. "Again?" he asked, a little coldly.
Serena was a little shocked by his sudden change. "Again? I haven't spoken to her in several days. It's just shopping," she answered a little defensively.
Darien gave a frustrated sigh as he moved her gently to the couch and off his lap. "I don't like you talking to her or hanging around her, Serena," he said seriously.
Serena frowned, getting a little angry," You're the one that suggested we be friends, remember? She hasn't done anything suspicious so far."
Agitated at the thought of them hanging-out, she was right about what she'd said. He looked at her sullen face, and his face softened up a little. With much remorse, he said," You're right. Fine… I'm sorry."
Serena's frown fell, and she nodded quietly. She moved closer to his side again, resting her head on his shoulder. "Just trust me. If I think she's any threat at all, I wouldn't hang-out with her." She paused for awhile and she looked up at his face. "I love you."
He looked down at her angelic face, eyebrows up. "Where'd that come from?" he asked, looking amused.
Serena smiled," I just wanted to reassure you," she answered, snuggling closer to him again.
He smiled and put an arm around her, kissing her sweetly on her head," Well I love you too, Meatball head."
