A.N: Thank you for the reviews:
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Chapter 46: Broadway
Serena woke-up a little earlier then she usually would because she wanted to help her mother with breakfast. Knowing Irene, she was probably already down in the kitchen fixing-up a big breakfast meal.
Serena yawned as she headed towards the bathroom.
The bathroom was located outside of her room. Sammy, her, and now Darien, all had to share one bathroom. It was to the right of Serena's room.
What Serena didn't know was she was about to get the shock of her life.
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Darien put his face in the cold water once more before he turned it off. Taking showers in the morning always woke him up and reenergized him. He pushed aside the shower curtain, and stepped out. Just as he was doing that, the bathroom door opened.
Serena opened the bathroom door, looking at the ground sleepily. Once she was inside, she closed it quickly and realized it was very humid and steamy… then she looked up.
Darien froze where he was, his arm outstretched for a towel, his hair dripping wet as well as his lean body. His eyes widened in complete terror as Serena looked at him. It looked like her eyes were about to bulge out of her head. Her face had completely turned red, and she gave a little scream as she brought her hands up to cover her eyes quickly chanting," Oh my god… Oh my god.."
Darien lunged forward to grab a towel and hurriedly wrapped it around his waist, feeling completely humiliated. This was the most awkward situation he'd ever been placed in.
Serena still had her eyes covered, but was now apologizing. "Oh my God… Darien… I am so sorry," she started, feeling so embarrassed she wish she would die. I cannot believe that just happened… oh my god… these thoughts kept running through her head.
Darien swallowed and whispered," Is your dad awake?" he asked, his voice seemed shaky and scared. He wasn't even worried that Serena had seen him… all of him. He was afraid that Ken would murder him with his bare hands.
"I don't know," Serena whispered, looking like a trapped mouse.
Darien walked towards her. "Serena, get out before this looks worse then it already does," he said fretfully. He opened the door and pushed her gently outside and closed it shut again, breathing heavily and praying that Ken hadn't seen. Something always goes wrong! He yelled at himself. He had locked the door, he was sure of it. He looked down at it and turned the knob. It was broken. Fantastic…
Darien groaned and ran a hand frustratingly through his wet hair. He looked in the mirror and rested his hands against the counter of the sink. After he calmed down, he finally decided to hurry and finish. The rest of the day couldn't possibly be as awkward as what had happened just a few minutes ago.
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Serena sat on her bed, subconsciously twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. Darien was naked, she thought to herself as she turned red again. The last time an incident like this happened was when she had a hang-over. Even then he wasn't completely naked, he was just half-naked. Serena let herself fall back on her bed. She wanted to clear her mind and forget about what she had just seen. Why does he have to be so ridiculously good looking? She asked herself as she thought about him, remembering how he looked as he had, apparently, just stepped out of a shower. She remembered the way his wet hair fell to his blue eyes, the way his tan and impeccable body looked with droplets of water clung to him. The man is so beautiful it hurts, she thought as she brought her arm over to cover her eyes. Then she remembered the way he looked at her… completely stupefied and in shock. Then she started to giggle as she imagined what must have gone through Darien's head when he saw her.
Just then, there was a knock on the door and Serena bolted up, sitting straight in her bed as she started to feel her heart race, wondering if it was her father.
She cleared her throat and readied herself. "Come in," she said, her voice cracking just a bit out of nervousness.
But it wasn't her father. It was Darien.
He poked his head in. "Um… I'm done. You can use the bathroom now," he announced as he looked at her timidly. His hair was still a bit damp but he was fully clothed now, wearing a light-blue, woven long-sleeved sweater with jeans. The sweater he was wearing made his blue eyes seem to pop and standout.
Serena nodded and slowly got up from her bed. She walked over to the door and stopped in front of Darien, looking up into his perfect face. "I'm.. um.. sorry about what happened earlier," she said, looking embarrassed again.
Darien smiled now as he looked down at Serena's flushed face. "It's okay. The lock was broken. You didn't know."
"Didn't know what?" Sam asked as he wobbled out of his room, looking at Darien.
Darien, startled, answered," Didn't know that…"
"Breakfast is almost ready," Serena finished for Darien, smiling innocently at Sam.
Sam looked at them, frowning skeptically, but then shrugged and went into the bathroom to freshen-up and get dressed.
Darien looked back at Serena and grinned. "You're quick."
"Obviously I'm not quick enough since I had to see… you know."
Darien laughed now, looking amused. As he started to back away from her, heading downstairs, he said," At least you don't have to wonder anymore. Now you know," he joked and disappeared as he walked downstairs.
Serena blushed again, shaking her head as she smiled. Stupid boys.
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Everyone was downstairs now, helping themselves to Irene's delicious breakfast. As they all got a stack of pancakes, Darien and Ken were talking furiously about sports, their eyes looking very serious.
Serena helped her mother in the kitchen as they looked out towards the table. Serena was mixing the batter, while Irene made the pancakes and hummed a lullaby.
"I'm glad they're getting along," Irene chirped happily as she poured some batter into the pan.
Serena smiled and nodded. She had finally had her turn in the bathroom after Sammy. She put her hair half-up, leaving the rest of her silky-soft hair down. She wore a warm gray long-sleeved shirt with her favorite pairs of blue jeans.
"What are you two going to do today?" Irene asked, looking at her radiant daughter.
Serena shrugged as she kept mixing with her Wisk. "I'm not sure. Maybe I could take him into New York City and watch a Broadway or something," she said thoughtfully.
"That's a lovely idea," Irene said, smiling. "How about you take him out to lunch? You two just walk around and do some sight-seeing, and the whole family will go to a Broadway show together later on!" she said enthusiastically.
Serena grinned at her mother. "That sounds like fun! Me and Darien will just go and buy all the tickets. I haven't seen Gypsy yet, we could watch that."
"Gypsy? Who's starring in it?" asked Irene as she flipped the pancake over.
"Bernadette Peters is. She's amazing," Serena discussed further.
Soon, all the pancakes were finished and everyone started chowing down.
Ken and Darien were still in a heated conversation about the Red Sox verses the Yankee's. Darien liked the Red Sox, while Ken rooted for the Yankee's. Sam just listened off to the side, not really siding with anyone, but rather amused by his father's hurling accusations against the Red Sox.
"Red Sox are gonna win the World Series this year," Darien said matter-of-factly as he stuck some pancakes in his mouth.
Ken was looking flustered now, not letting the argument drop. "I tell you it'll be the Yankee's! They haven't lost a single game yet, this year!"
"But they will at the World Series," Darien said arrogantly, still chewing.
"How's say we make a bet?" Ken asked, now looking mischievous.
Darien grinned, his mouth still full of food. He put his fork down and stuck out his hand for Ken, making the bet.
Irene and Serena sat, watching the two men in disgust, shaking their heads disapprovingly while Sam laughed.
"What's the bet, dad?" Sam asked looking completely enthralled.
"I guess just the satisfaction of being right," Ken shrugged as he finally started eating.
"And what a great satisfaction that'll be, too," Darien joked as he smiled.
The two were finally at-ease with one another. They were being sarcastic and joking around, discussing random, pointless subjects and having an endless debate about each. Almost like a family.
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After breakfast was finished, Serena took Darien for an outing. They took a taxi into New York City, the drive being fairly long.
Serena's soft, small hands were in Darien's strong ones. Her head was leaned against him as they both looked out the window at the beautiful white snow.
The silence that fell between them was a comfortable one as they admired the outskirts of New York. Suddenly, out of the blue, Serena asks," Darien, are you a virgin?"
Darien looked down at her, looking very surprised and shocked at the same time. "Why do you want to know?" he asked.
Serena shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I've been thinking a lot about it lately," she said truthfully, not looking in the least bit embarrassed about the subject.
Darien sighed and let go of her hand, then wrapping it around her instead. "Honestly….. no. I'm not a virgin," he answered, looking directly into her questioning blue eyes.
She nodded and glanced away from his gaze, looking back out at the snow.
"Does that bother you?" he asked her, feeling a little worried now.
Serena was quiet for awhile, thinking about his question. She'd always figured he wasn't a virgin… but to actually hear him say it, made her kind of sad and disappointed. "No," she finally answered. "I mean I've always figured you weren't one."
Darien frowned, looking a little confused. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well…. you've never had trouble getting girls. And then there was that whole Rory thing," she quietly said.
Darien was at a loss for words now, looking down at Serena's stricken face. He watched as her blue gaze left his again and looked out the window. He took his hand and lifted her face so she could look at him. "I want you to know, Serena, that I didn't sleep around," he said, his tone soft and careful. "Yes, I've never had trouble 'getting a girl', but that doesn't mean I've slept with any of them."
Serena looked at him, her blue eyes boring into his. "I know… I'm not accusing you of sleeping with people, I was just wondering," she reassured.
Darien studied her face intently. He could tell she was a little saddened at the fact he was not a virgin. The look on her face made him regret ever having done anything before, but this was something he couldn't fix or take back. This was permanent. "I'm sorry, Serena," he whispered.
Serena could tell by his tone and his facial expression that he truly meant it. He had said it in such a soft, sad voice, it made her heart ache. Serena stared at him, transfixed… unable to say anything back. Instead, she kissed him sweetly on the lips, letting it linger before she parted. She ran a hand at the side of his hair, and looked up at him lovingly. "Don't be sorry…. I'm sorry for asking. It wasn't any of my business," she said as she looked into his mesmerizing eyes.
He shook his head in disagreement. "You had a right to know," he replied.
Serena rested her head back on his chest. "But I made you sad," she murmured, almost to herself.
Darien chuckled now. "You made me sad? I made you sad."
Serena grinned and shook her head. "You could never make me sad," she said," At least not for long."
Hearing that, he chuckled some more as he pulled her in closer to him. They were in New York City now. Even being in the majestic city before, Darien couldn't help but be in awe at the towering buildings and skyscrapers.
The snow in New York City was extremely slushy and watery, due to the many tourists and workers that walk about the city. Snow was still falling all around, but it didn't have enough time to solidify before someone would trample over it.
The taxi came to a stop and Darien and Serena got out of the car and paid the taxi driver. They were standing in front of the Broadway entrance to Gypsy. Serena paid for five tickets, and Darien and her began walking.
"Where would you like to go?" she asked as she looped an arm around his.
Darien shrugged as he looked forward to the never-ending line of tall buildings. "Take me where you please," he said as he smiled.
"Chinatown," she said happily. "We can have lunch down there later on, too. It's fantastic! And the shopping down there is great. You could bargain and save lots of money," she started to ramble as they walked in the direction of what Darien guessed was Chinatown.
Serena was right. The food was fantastic, and the bargaining was very fun. Very little people down there spoke English fluently, so making a bargain was a challenge, but a very fun one at that. Chinatown actually looked like a town in China! There were paper lanterns strung across buildings, and dragon heads everywhere. There were kimono's displayed here and there and little Buddha statues for sale. It was like stepping into a foreign country.
After several hours, it was time to go back to the Gypsy Broadway entrance to meet her family. The production would be showing in about an hour.
When Darien and Serena arrived, her family was waiting patiently outside. Ken and Irene waved as they approached them.
As they all assembled into the theatre, everyone laughed and talked cheerfully as they took their seats and waited for the show to begin. Soon enough, the lights flickered out, and the orchestra began playing as the actors and singers came out on stage.
Let the show begin!
