Mina walked out of room and headed down the hall. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us, we won't be out too late and it won't be anything crazy."

Serena closed her book and pulled her throw blanket tighter around her. "I am going to pass tonight." She watched as Mina struggled with her earrings. "Do you need help?"

"No I think I got it, and I think you would have so much fun!"

"Meen, last time we tried to go out, who did we bump into?"

"That was not planned at all. It just happened." She sat down next to Serena. "What are the odds it happens again?"

"I don't want to risk it." She crossed her arms across her chest. "This town just isn't big enough for both of us." She pulled her knees to her chest. "I should have moved back home. Or taken a job somewhere else."

Mina looked at Serena's sunken face. She put her hand on her knee. "I am glad you decided to stay, we would have missed you too much."

The living room clock clicked, causing Mina too look at the time. She then looked back at Serena, "Please call me if you need something."

"I will be fine!"

Mina approached the door and just as she reached the handle there was a hard knock. She turned to Serena. "You ordered your food already?"

Serena nodded her head no.

Mina cautiously opened the door as Serena stared from the couch.

"Delivery!"

"Oh wow!"

"Serena?"

Serena threw her legs off the couch and sat up.

"She is right there I will give these to her, but before you go let me get you a tip."

"Thank you but we were advised not to accept tips, the sender tipped us a good evening ma'am"

Serena watched as Mina accepted a large bouquet of roses into her arms. She turned around and shut the door with her leg.

"You are going to be late."

"I don't care, open the card."

"Mina."

"Open the card Sere." Mina demanded with a smile.

The two walked over to the kitchen, where Mina placed the vase on the center island. She watched as Serena pulled the card and opened it She skimmed the note.

"What does it say."

"Mina you are going to be late."

"I don't care. What does it say?"

"Dear Serena," She sighed. "One of these days I hope that I can fill our home with all the red roses possible. But for now here is another bouquet for you to keep at home."

"Another?"

"I am not done." Serena cut her off. "I am sorry I didn't send you these more often. I love you with every I have. Darien."

"He sent you another bouquet? When?"

"Today at work." Serena threw the note down, shrugged her shoulders and headed back to the couch. "You should be leaving."

"Serena, I can be a little late. I need to make sure you are okay." Mina followed her to the couch. "Why didn't you tell me that he sent you roses to work?

"Why wouldn't I be okay?"

"You face says you aren't, and you didn't answer my second question"

"It must have slipped my mind." She looked at Mina obviously didn't believe her. "Mina, stop worrying about me." She pulled the cover back over her. "Go have fun. I am sure some how you and Malachite are going to end up bumping into each other."

Mina chuckled. "He really does love you Serena. And he is obviously trying."

"Two bouquets -"

"I know are not enough to fix all that happened. But he is trying so hard."

"I wish I could go home and see my mom, but she is out living her best retirement life." She leaned back against the pillow. And just focused on a strand of the blanket.

"Are you sure you are going to be okay?"

"Yes, now go." She shooed her away.

Mina smiled got up and headed out. "Call us if you need anything."

Serena just admired the roses while she sat on the couch. They were so fragrant she could smell them still across the room. She started to bite her nail.

"Stupid Darien... why couldn't you be like this before I left?" She shook her head and looked to the ceiling. She was reminded of a Valentines Night where she and the girls all got ready, and one by one their dates came with roses. She admired them while she waited for Darien to come home. She ended up falling asleep on the couch with a full face of make up. And waking up to the smell of all her friends roses. Not one bouquet for her. She cleared her throat.

She turned to the TV and turned it on. She clicked and she clicked. All the channels money can buy and there was nothing. She looked at the clock. "Maybe I can go get a Red Box." She forced herself off the couch. "If I am going out might as well get some ice cream if we are out." She walked to the fridge shoulders sunk. Opened the freezer. The sight of the ice cream box brought a smile to her face. She went to check if it was not expired, only feel how light the carton was. She hung her head in disappointment. Pulled out the carton, removed the lid only to find that there was literally just one bite. "I am going to kill Mina." She tossed the carton in the trash, grabbed her purse and headed out.

The store was just down the corner from her place so she decided to walk. She liked watching the cars go by, and she loved watching the people sitting in the car while they waited for the light to turn green. She always wondered what they would talk about or what song they were singing. Her favorite was when she would every now and then see a couple kiss in the minute. She smiled to herself as she continued to walk. Not paying any attention to what was in front of her. She pulled her sweater tighter, just as she collided with what felt like a brick wall.

"Oh my god." She almost fell backwards only to be caught by "the walls" arm. "I am so sorry!" She looked up only to see Darien standing in front of her.

"Guess somethings never change." He forced a smile. "I was standing here hoping you would notice me."

"Darien..." She said frustratedly fixing herself, "What are you doing all the way out here?" She looked him up and down, only to notice that he had a plastic bag in one of his hands, "You came all this way to get groceries? Don't you have a store closer to your place?"

Darien cleared his throat and looked at the bag. "I do, but this was actually for you." He said defeated.

"I am sorry? Did you say you bought be groceries?" Serena stepped back confused. "I am very capable of getting my own groceries. Just because you made all the money while we were together, does not mean I am living in the poorhouse, now that we aren't" Serena started to get annoyed. "I don't need you take care of me." Her voice started to raise. Her face was starting to feel hot.

Darien looked at her. Her little hands balled into little fist. Her face turning a little pink. Reminded him of when they would fight when they were younger. He always loved how cute she was, when she got mad. He also loved how she could be mad one second and in the next act like nothing happened.

"If you will excuse me, I am heading to the store, to buy somethings that I need." She pivoted her body to go around him, only for him to move the same direction blocking her.

"No Serena," Darien tried to find the correct way to phrase his words. "These aren't groceries. Well they are. But, they aren't like... would you just look in the bag?" He swung the bag forward towards her. She just looked at it. "Please."

She sighed, rolled her eyes, grabbed the bag and opened it up. Inside the bag was three movies, ice cream, chocolate, hot cocoa mix, and a single rose. Her heart thumped.

"I know the girls went out," He started. "Crazy actually, the guys somehow managed to bump into them. They were going to a show. But that is besides the point."

Serena looked at him. The last time she remembered him being this nervous was when he met her dad for the first time. Other than that day, he was always so together.

"I was going to drop this off at your door."

"How did you know that I would be home?" Serena looked confused.

"I didn't just figured I would at least try."

A car zoomed by causing a big gust of wind. Serena pulled her sweater tighter.

"Are you cold? Here!" He removed his jacket and swung it around her before she could even answer.

"Darien." Serena tilted her head to the side.

"I just wanted to do this for you. If the ice cream melted because it sat out too long, I didn't care. I just wanted to do this for you."

"Thanks." She looked down at his shoes.

"But... I will let you.. get to the store before it gets to late." He shrugged awkwardly.

She looked at him. "I don't really have anything to buy at this point." She tried to hide her smile. "You kind of got everything I was going to grab." She ran her fingers down his jacket. "Did you want your jacket back? I am just right there...I think I will be fine without it."

"Or I can walk you home and just get it back once you're in the building?"

"I guess...that can work too." She did not make eye contact when she answered. She just pulled his jacket closed. She subtly took in the smell of his cologne, as she turned around towards her apartment.

Darien released a sigh of relief as he took one big step to catch up to her. He reached down to grab the bag back from her hand. She looked up to him.

"Wouldn't be gentlemen like if I let you hold this all the way to your place."