Step 1 was going to just be there for her whenever he could. But according to Andrew he could not over due it because then Serena will suspect this is an act and then she will never be okay with it.
"Little things. Little things." He reminded himself. He started to morning simple before his run he sent her a good morning text. Reminding her how much he really did love her and he hoped she had a great day.
She never responded. But he did not expect her too. He went for his run and went about his day. Of his days of the week. Tuesdays were the longest. Clinical rotation and two back to back classes. He was mentally drained and always dreaded Tuesdays.
He checked his phone after his last class.
"She is here." Was all it read. Typically on a Tuesday he would go home, shower and read to get ahead, but today, he decided otherwise.
Serena sat in the booth with her friends, partly reviewing the weeks assignments and gossiping about what was going on at each school. This was a routine for them on Tuesdays. Mondays were always hectic and by the time they were done doing what needed to be done and finished from the weekend they were drained, so Tuesdays were their days.
"You have got to be kidding me! They got back together?!" Serena yelled with wide opened eyes.
"Yeah doof, because you wouldn't date him and she looks almost like you." Rei expressed. "He has a type. Surprised he didn't just go for Mina to be honest."
"I would never date that womanizer!" Mina said disgusted.
"He is fairly good looking though..." Lita sighed. "Why are all the sucky ones the best one looking ones?"
Serena just scoffed to herself, took a sip of her shake.
"Any word from Darien?" Ami whispered next to her. "Since his last text?"
"Last text? He actually messaged you?" Mina asked in disbelief.
Serena didn't have to say a word.
"Well hell must have frozen over." She added.
"I cannot believe you didn't tell us what you were going though, like we never have secrets, ever." Rei's tone was hurt.
"I am just trying to process all this myself guys okay?" Serena said. "And I don't want to talk about it again." She waved her hand dismissing it all.
"Sere we are not judging you, if you want to be with him. We know how much you love him. But you don't have to hurt alone. You have us for a reason?" Mina forced a smile. "At least that is my thought."
Amy threw her arm around Serena and gave her a hug.
"You deserve the world." She whispered.
"And if he is not willing to give it to Sere, some of those boys at my school, god they talked about you like you were some goddess who blessed this earth. I am not quite sure why?" She sighed. "But I can always set you up with one of them." She shrugged. "Who knows maybe it will cause doof to step his game up and realize, he will never find anyone like you."
"You are just saying that."
"No. I am not." Rei said running her hand. "Who can we always count on? In a bind you are always there, surprisingly on time." She cleared her throat softly. "And who always makes us laugh and brings so much brightness in our life?" She started to tear.
"Stop Rei, you are going to make me cry!" She swatted arm.
"I know I fight with you, but I swear I will fight for you any day." Rei said sucking back her tears.
"I hate you!" Serena started to tear up. She grabbed a tissue to wipe her eyes. "We need to stop this. Guys I am fine! I just need to time to figure it all out and..." Sigh. "Go back to accepting despite it all I still choose him, okay. I will be okay."She wiped another tear.
"He will never be good enough for you Sere," Lita stated.
There was some silence until one of the girls had a question on another homework assignment and they were back at the refresher they had, until it was time to go.
"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you home Sere?" Lita asked.
"It is totally opposite directions, I will be fine. I have done this a million times." She said throwing on her back pack.
"I know but..."
"I will be fine go home and chill out." She said waving her off.
"If you say so..." Lita said tightening her back strap.
"I do." She started to walk away waving to her friends.
Her walk wasn't close and she could probably get home a lot faster taking the bus, but she loved the walk. The scenery around her. She watched all the couples as they held each other, as they shared their drinks or snacks. She always smiled to herself and she always quickly looked away scared they were going to be looking back at her. Her favorite moment to see was the moment right before a kiss. How the two would embrace each other or gaze into one and other's eyes.
She just sighed. Tightened her jacket and continued to walk, with each car that passed a gust of wind would follow. One foot in front of the other. She internally yelled at herself, cursing herself for not packing another pair of shoes. It seemed like everyday time walk seemed longer. Study sessions from Rei's house were much easier on feet.
"Hmmmm that looks Darien's car." A sadness washed over her. It was like the sadness she felt after the ferris wheel. She was not technically alone, but she was. She was with someone but almost all the time nobody knew she was. Every compliment or every time someone approached her for a date, was just another reminder that she may have a boyfriend, but he was never there. She remembered the time people at school thought she was lying about having a boyfriend. She finally gave up that fight, there was nothing she could do to make them believe and there was nothing he was willing to do to assist.
She hated being this sad, but she refused to cry any tears. She took in a deep breath, put her head up and froze. She was dreaming. This wasn't real. He wasn't standing there at his car waiting for her in his school clothes. She shook her head. She was hallucinating. He would never take time out of his day, or maybe he did just not for her. Her heart pounded. Maybe he didn't see. Maybe she could get lost in the crowd, and maybe this will be it. She will catch him and finally it would be her reason to know she should really let him go.
But the idea of that really crushed her. She felt the air being taken out of her lungs. Her eyes stung from the tears. She kept shaking her head. "You are not going to cry. You are not going to cry." She whispered taking faster steps. She thought maybe if she walked fast enough, and if she was behind someone, he would not notice her. She thought she was about to get away, but she really had no such luck.
His long fingers encircled her wrist, and tightened around it, pulling her back to him.
"Did you not see me standing here?" He asked with a smile.
She loved that smile. That was one of the first things that made her fall in love with him. Even though his smiled used to only happen after he and herself would get into a name calling war, it always did something to her.
"I thought I could give you a ride home? I was going to get you from the arcade, but I guess you left just as I got there." He leaned in a pecked her on the lips. "Let's get in the car, it is getting kind of cold." She still didn't say anything.
"Serena?" Darien softly called. "Are you okay?"
"Wh...what are you doing here?" Serena finally got out.
"Like I said." He opened the door to passenger side of the car. "I came to give you a ride home."
"Yeah...you said that...but I am trying to understand why?" Her look was nothing but confused.
"Because I figured it would be a long walk and I wanted to see you." He stood there, still holding the door open.
"That brain freeze must have messed up my brain, and I totally dreaming." She scoffed, and took one step another way only for her arm to be pulled again.
"One, you are not dreaming. Two a brain freeze cannot mess you up like that. And three I am really here, just to give you a ride and see you." He explained. "Come on get in. I promise I am just giving you a ride home."
She just looked at him.
"Serena, it is cold and I really don't want you to get sick."
"Darien, I really don't want to put you out of your way. I am sure you have studying or chapters to read." She pulled her arm away and started to walk in the direction of her home.
He sighed. Banged his head on his open door. "It was not meant to be easy. It was not meant to be easy." He shut the door, locked his car and turned to see where Serena was. He then took a few large strides to catch up to her.
"Darien I am sure you have some studying to do." Serena said crossing her arms over her chest and walking.
"I would rather just walk with you."
She stopped. "You're going to leave your car here..."
He nodded.
"And then walk back all alone?"
"If that is what I have to do to then that is what I will do." He shrugged.
"This ridiculous." She just rolled her eyes.
"What is ridiculous is how many times you have told me, you hate this walk. So here I am to pick you up." Darien explained. "My car is right there. I can take you home."
"Darien..."
He grabbed her hand, intertwined his finger in hers. "You decide our route."
She took one step in the direction of his car. He opened the door and got in.
So, it was a little more aggressive than Andrew told him to do, and he really did not mean for it to be that way. He hates to see her annoyed. So the next step will be better. He will consult and plan with more than one guy for back up plans.