Step 4 made Darien nervous beyond any of the other steps because this one actually involved Serena. This was supposed to be a surprise and spontaneous, for her at least, completely planned out for him. She could have other plans, she can not feel well, or she could not want too. And what if she uses those other excuses, but really she just does not want to be with him. Every excuse causes his palms to sweat, and he hated himself even more. Being with her should never have been this way.
He loved her free spirit and her go with the flow. He loved how she always pout everyone first. She understood that everyone did not have the life she had. She had parents who loved her and were always there for her. She had a brother who would want to kill her, but at the drop of a hat would kill for her. She went to a good school. Had amazing friends. People gravitated to her. Only people who really hated her were the ones who wanted the guys who wanted her. However, she had her heart set on one guy, and it was him. Of all people it was him.
He sighed. Got out of the shower and picked out his clothes. He wasn't going to be able to keep going back and forth in his head anymore. It was time to start his plan.
The drive to Serena's house was a lot quicker than he thought it would be. All the lights were green. He was not one to believe in signs but he thought this was a sign that someone thinks he needed to spend more time with her. Like every second with her was going to count for something.
Before getting out of his car, he gave himself a pep talk, dried the sweat from his hands, took deep breaths. Someone in the house must have seen him doing his little routine because before he made it up the stairs that Serena hated so much, the door swung open, and there she was. Her hair up in a giant messy bun, she was in sweats and white shirt. The shirt was think, he could see what looked like a blank tank underneath. Her socks didn't match, but they never did.
She looked so confused. He could not help but admire how cute she looked confused. That is why he did love to study with her. She never noticed but he would glance over to see her overthinking face, he thought about those times. All those times he thought he should have just leaned in to kiss her, but he didn't. He had every excuse in the book as to why he didn't or wouldn't and now he is here, standing at her house hoping that she would just drop everything to spend some time with him.
"What are you doing here?" Was the first thing she asked. "No hi Darien. No hug. She just used the door as a barrier and simply asked.
"Ummm..." Darien started. He was having the worst time making eye contact. "I was wondering if you were free. It was a nice day. I figured we could just skip everything and maybe go on a picnic." His voice low, feet fidgeting. "I got some things in the car."
"I am sorry Darien."
Felt a squeeze around his heart.
"I have to complete all my chores before I do anything...and I am not sure how long that will be." She shrugged. "And beside, I know you hate the park, so just go study or something." She forced a smile.
"I... I don't hate the park."
She crossed her arms and tilted her head.
"Fine. It is not my favorite place but it is okay. I wanted to take you and I am far enough in my studies."
Her facial expression unchanged.
"I know it is last minute. I kind of just thought about this today..." Darien explained.
"Really?" Serena was not convinced.
"Really." He confirmed.
"Darien you plan your socks and underwear for the week, to make sure you have certain level of comfort throughout certain days." She scratched the back of her head. "Kinda of hard to believe you just planned this."
"W...well.. I did."
She sighed. "Even if that is true, I can't go I nee-"
"Who is that the door honey?" A sweet voice said pulling the door even more open. She looked at Darien up and down.
"It is just Darien mom."
Just Darien...There it went the squeeze around his heart again. There was no emotion in that phase. It was almost like she had to force it out.
"Hello Darien." Serena's mom beamed.
"Hello ma'am." He bowed.
"Oh sweet boy, call me Irene or Mom. Ma'am sounds so old." She made a gross face. "Why don't you come in?"
"He can't mom, I am doing chores." Serena answered.
"How much do you have left?" Her mom asked.
"The bathroom and mopping." Serena answered.
"I can take care of it honey, you have guest." She turned to Darien. "Come in."
"Mom..." Serena whispered. "Dad is going to be mad that I didn't complete chores. He will be home from the store soon."
"I will deal with dad. Come in son. Come in." She waved him in. He looked at Serena. She moved to the side.
He removed his shoes and came in.
"So what did you two have planned for today." Irene closed the door behind them.
"I am actually trying to surprise Serena with a picnic." He explained, hoping to get some reaction out of Serena.
"Oh that is so sweet!" Irene gushed. "Isn't that so sweet honey?"
Serena just gave her mom a nod.
"Why don't you go get ready, and Darien, you can have seat." Irene pointed him to the living room.
"Mom.." Serena whispered.
"I will take care of the cleaning my love. Go get ready. He is already here." She slightly nudged her upstairs and she proceeded to go.
About 30 minutes later Serena came down the stairs. Black Vneck shirt, blue shorts and white shoes. Her hair in a simple pony tale and a sweater over her arm.
"Ready to go?" Serena asked Darien, before turning to her mom. "Mom are you sure?"
Her mom just nodded.
"We won't be gone long." She hugged her mom.
"Thank you." Darien bowed again and opened the door for Serena go out first.
The car ride was short and quiet. Serena stayed on her side of the car, stiff as a board, looking out the window. To say it was awkward as an understatement. Darien's sweaty hands gripped the wheel. He thought about just grabbing her hand but the moisture on his hands would probably gross her out.
When they arrived Darien went around the car opened the door for her to get out and then went to his trunk. Serena watched as he put the picnic basket on the floor and started to frantically dig through his trunk. It took Serena a few minutes, but she eventually went to check on him.
"I left the damn blanket on the floor by shoes." Darien tried to say as calm as possibly. He refused to get mad in front of Serena, but too late she could sense.
"It's okay, Darien, maybe we should just-"
"Nope, we will use my jackets. I have two in here, just in case." He grabbed them out and laid them over his arm.
"Darien..." Serena tried.
"Nope it is just a little missed detail, but today is going to be fine. I have these for us to sit on." He picked up the basket. Put his arm out for Serena to grab on. She looked at him sideways. "Come on." He encouraged.
She just nodded and went with it. Grabbed his arm and they walked.
"It is nice out today. Not too hot and not too cold." Darien looked at Serena. She just nodded.
"That area over there looks nice...what do you think?" He pointed to an area between two trees.
Again she just nodded.
They took one step on the grass and they both heard a squish sound. They looked down and the same time.
"They must have just watered the grass." Darien said picking up his shoes and observing the mud.
"Maybe white shoes were not the best idea for the park." Serena had a disgusted look on her face as she too observed the mud. "I should have remembered from the last time we came." She looked up quickly. "Well you weren't there, it was me and the girls." She corrected.
"Maybe the more sunnier part will be more dry." Darien tried to be optimistic.
"Darien... we could just-"
"Nope, let's go." Determined to make this day right he pulled her along.
The sound of the grass did not get any better and the walk got harder as their shoes continued to track mud. Serena's leg started to get tired.
"I think this is as good as it will get." Darien said defeated.
Serena looked around. The grass was still soaked and there were obvious puddles.
"Darien, there are tables over there? I see that you are trying but we should just call the grass a loss and head over there."
"Nope we are already over here..."
"Darien I don't want you to put your jacket on the ground and the water will seep through. Come on, let's go sit on the table."
Darien rolled his eyes. "Not how I planned this."
"You mean your supposed last minute plan."
"Let's just go over there." Darien groaned.
The walk was even harder because they were right in the middle of the park and there was no way to avoid the mud. When they finally reached the table, Serena had to sit to give her legs a rest.
She looked at her shoes. "These shoes are done."
"I can always get you a new one." Darien offered.
"It's fine, I will just save my allowance." She gave him a quick smile.
Darien opened the picnic basket, and slammed it shut.
"What happened?" Serena asked concerned with how angry he looked.
"The car was so hot, the food is spoiled, and the ice cream melted." He explained slamming his fist on the table.
"I am sorry you put ice cream in a picnic basket...? Did you have an ice pack in there?"
He just side eyed her.
Serena just bobbed her head and looked around the park.
"I had this all planned out..." He muttered. He started to swat a bug that was flying around him. "Ugh there are so many bugs around here!"
Serena whipped her head around. "Thought you said this was spur of the moment? I knew you were lying." She just shook her head.
"I...I mean...ugh." He slid into table.
"Darien..."She sighed. "I told you it was fine, we did not have to come. I know you hate this place."
"But I was doing this for you!" He started to bang his head on the table.
"Darien, the last thing I want is for you to be uncomfortable and miserable." Serena explained. "I said it was okay. And honestly, if we leave now...I can probably get home in time to help mom with my chores."
"This is not what I wanted..." Darien said to the table.
"Darien, I appreciate what you tried to do, sometimes things do not go as planned, and..."
'Remember make due with what you have.' He heard Mina and Andrew's voice in his head. The money he wasted on the food was gone. The perfect spot in the middle of the sun was gone. The glasses that he bought to drink sparkling water out of was dirty from melted ice cream. He took her in his nicest car, that is now going to be ruined from their muddy shoes. What did he really have left? He cannot figure out how to talk to her. She was right it should not be this hard. He just wanted to be with her. Then his head popped up and he looked at her standing there.
"Then we can do the one thing I do know how to do." He said scooting over and throwing one leg over the bench, to straddle it. "We can sit here, and just be together." He patted the bench signaling her to join him.
She tilted her head and just looked at him confused.
"I can't fix all this, but I can still make due with what I have." He put his hand out to her. She looked at it. "And right now I have this bench, a nice park to look out and time." He twitched his fingers, signaling for her to grab them.
She continued to look at his hand.
"Sere," He called.
She hesitantly took his hand, and he lightly pulled her in. She sat down, then through her leg over like he did. He pulled her back to lean on him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. She for once wasn't sure what to do. Her hands still at her side.
A small breeze blew by and they both took in the fresh air.
"It is nice out here." He whispered. "Minus the bugs and mud. I could do this."
She felt his body relax, as she put her hands over his, and that is how part 4 of the plan went from disaster, to doable.