A.N: Thank you for the reviews! (As always)

I don't have much to say this time. LOL.

I'll let you get to the reading now.

LOTS of fluffiness in this chapter.

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Chapter 12: Escort

Darien left his mother's house feeling flustered. The entire time he was there, she kept bringing up Serena! When she wasn't talking about Serena, she would use metaphors that would HINT him to do or say something to Serena. She tried to get him to feel guilty, which didn't work. Then, she tried to get him to think about what she said… and that actually worked.

Not like Serena wasn't already constantly in his thoughts, but now she was engraved into his mind, thanks to his mom.

"She won't wait forever, Darien." His mother's words rang in his ear.

What do I care? He thought as he drove back to the White House It's not like it can happen… or that I even WANT it to happen, he argued with himself.

No, you WANT it to happen, his conscious suddenly talked back. Deep down, you know you do.

Darien frowned as he turned into the security gates. He hated it when his conscious spoke to him. No, I don't… he thought again, trying to reassure himself.

Too bad it didn't work.

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Serena's family day adjourned early because Ken had an urgent call. It was only about six when she started making her way back to her room, her thoughts on the Presidential Ball that was coming up in the following week.

As she walked, she looked down at her feet and the reflection of herself in the marble floor. Her mother had mentioned finding an escort, but Serena only wanted one person to be her escort; and that one person was Darien.

Just ask him, she thought to herself as she took long strides. The worst thing that can happen is him saying no….. Which can, ultimately, break my heart…

She gave a long sigh as she reached the elevator, pausing to wait for it to open. You have to do it sooner or later! Just… be really friendly about it. Just tell him that you need an escort… that doesn't necessarily scream," I love you!"

Serena stepped in once the elevator doors opened, pressing in her floor level, and leaning against the wall as she habitually grabbed a strand of hair to twirl around her fingers. "Okay," she said aloud," I'm going to do it. I'm going to ask him!"

Right as the doors swung open, she walked straight to Darien's door before she had a chance to back down. Her heart raced as she knocked on his door, biting her lip nervously. Stay calm… she told herself as she waited. When no one answered, she placed a hand on the doorknob and knocked again, turning the doorknob without thinking.

It clicked and opened, making Serena's heart skip a beat as she poked her head in. "Umm… Hello?" she asked timidly, taking a step in his room. "Darien? I came to ask you something…"

No one answered her.

He's not here… she told herself as she closed the door behind her and walked deeper into his room. "What am I doing?" she asked herself as she walked in deep enough to see his bed.

Right by his bed was a nightstand where she noticed a framed picture. As Serena walked closer, she saw it was a picture of him and his parents when he was around eight. She picked it up and stared at the picture, transfixed at the happy family smiling at her. Darien looked exactly like his father.

Suddenly, she heard a click, then the squeaky sound of the door opening. Serena gasped as her heart raced. Oh my God, she thought as she looked around the room for a place to hide. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a large wooden cabinet to the far left side of the wall. She ran to it, opening it up, the picture frame still in her hands, and she climbed in and quietly closed it.

What the hell am I doing? Why am I hiding? She yelled at herself as she sat still, peering through the crack of the cabinet doors. The cabinet was completely desolate; nothing was inside of it, except for Serena.

Soon, she saw Darien as he walked to the bed and sat down, tiredly resting his elbows on his knees as he hunched over, looking like he was thinking of something. He only stayed for a second before he stood up again and took off his blazer, haphazardly throwing it onto the bed.

Then he disappeared from Serena's limited vision for awhile. While he was gone, Serena let out a silent breathe, having been holding it while he was in the room. I'm an idiot… how am I gonna get out of this one?

As she thought about a plan to escape without being caught, Darien walked back in the room, shirtless. He still had on his black trouser dress pants, but he looked absolutely incredible.

Serena's eyes widened as she pressed her face to the cabinet door, trying to get a better view of him. I'm officially a pervert.

He disappeared from her view again, but only for a minute to turn on some music. When he was back, Frank Sinatra's voice began to serenade the room.

I love you, I love you.

It's all that I can say,

I love you, I love you,

The same old words I'm saying in the same old way.

Serena watched as he sat down at the edge of the bed again, leaning down to take off his shoes. She had a perfect profile view of him. She could see how his hair touched his eyelashes, and how his tanned, perfect body looked.

I love you, I love you.

Three words that are divine.

And now my dear, I'm waitin' to hear

The words that will make you mine.

He stood up again as he started to unbuckle his belt, facing in her very direction without knowing it and giving her the optimum view of his flawless body. He had defined, sculpted eight pack abs, and the muscle line that v-ed down from his pelvis.

Little girl, I love you.

Can't you see I love you?

I love you, can't you see I love you?

As Serena watched with unblinking eyes, she saw something drop down in front of her face. Her eyes slowly looked at it, and saw that it was a spider… a large, black spider. She gasped loudly and screamed as she threw open the cabinet doors and scrambled out quickly.

I love you, I love you.

Three words that are divine.

And now, my dear, I'm waitin' to hear,

The words that make you mine.

She screamed as she flailed her hands, with the picture frame still in it, around her face.

Darien, startled, looked wide-eyed at Serena as she kept screaming and thrusting her hands about, eventually clumsily stumbling into him.

Once she felt strong arms wrap around her, she fell silent, her breathe coming out quick and short from being scared.

"Whoa," Darien said as she fell into his arms.

She was still for moment before she slowly turned around in his arms, blushing like mad as she looked into his questioning blue eyes.

"Um.. Serena," Darien began," Would you mind explaining yourself?"

Serena gulped as she took a step away from him, making him let go of her. She was still clutching onto his picture. "I-I… saw a spider," she answered lamely as she looked down at the ground. Her heart was beating so hard, she could hear it pulse in her eardrum.

Darien's eyebrows went up as he stared down at her, looking a tad-bit amused. She looked so cute, all frazzled by the bug, and her cheeks are flushed. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, some of it escaping the grasp of her hair tie, as it tumbled out around her face. "Yeah… but how, if I may ask, did you get in my room? And why were you in the cabinet?"

It was damn hard for her to think when she was so close to him… it was even harder since he was naked. Half- naked. " Erm… I, uh, came to ask you a question," she said truthfully," but that's not important now. I… see that you're busy with… taking off your clothes," she said as she turned redder," so, um… I'll leave you," she finished as the thrusts the picture into his hand, and turned around to walk away from the extremely embarrassing situation.

"Whoa, wait a minute," he said as he put the picture down on his bed and took one step towards her," you're not getting away that easy," he said as he stopped her by grabbing her arm and turning her around to face him. "What did you want to ask me?" he questioned with an encouraging smile.

She glanced quickly up at him, then away. "It's not important," she repeated, feeling her stomach flip.

Darien took another step closer to her," No, ask me."

Serena couldn't help but throw quick, admiring glances at his body every so often. It was ridiculously hard to concentrate with him naked. Half-naked, she reminded herself again. " I don't want too…"

"Serena…," Darien said in a serious tone," Come on, just ask me. It was obviously important if you had to hide yourself in my cabinet."

"I was not hiding," she began to fight back before she caught his raised eyebrow. "Okay… fine, I was hiding, but it was just because I didn't want you to think I just came in here to snoop around," she said as she crossed her arms.

"Okay," Darien said as he crossed his own arms," then what did you come in for? To ask me a question, right? So ask it."

Serena frowned. She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it again and looked down at the ground once more. "Well you… at least, put on a shirt?"

Darien looked down at himself as if he had forgotten he didn't have a shirt on. "Does it bother you that much?" he asked, an amused grin slowly creeping onto his face.

Serena scowled. "Well.. I can't think when you're looking like… Will you just go put on a shirt?" she yelled. Was it just her, or was it getting extremely hot in the room?

"You can't think when I'm looking like what?" Darien pressed, now purposefully making her flustered.

She glared at him, and turned around again as she began stomping away.

"All right, all right! I'll go put on a shirt," he said as he rolled his eyes," but only if you promise to ask me the question," he gave her an ultimatum.

"Fine," she said as she stopped walking.

Darien shook his head, still smiling, as he walked into his bathroom and threw on the shirt he had on earlier. He came back out and quickly turned off the stereo before going over to Serena, who was now sitting on his bed.

"Well?" he asked as he stood before her.

Serena inhaled and exhaled before she said," I just wanted to ask you if you'd like to escort me to the Presidential Ball." She didn't look at him; instead she'd been staring at her hands.

Darien was quiet, looking a little surprised.

When Serena waited in silence for his answer, she began to feel regret. She looked up at him after a minute, and got up. "I knew I shouldn't have asked…. Just, forget it, okay?" she said as she walked around him, feeling her heart ache.

"I'll go with you," Darien suddenly said, making her freeze in her tracks.

"Don't go with me if you feel like you have too," she said as she turned around to look at him.

Darien looked at her with serious eyes. "I'm going with you, because I want too, not because I feel like I have too."

Serena seemed a little taken-aback by his answer, but also overwhelmingly happy. "Really?" she asked, looking unsure.

"Yes, really," Darien replied, a small smile touching his lips.

Serena blushed again. "Okay…."

Darien's smile broadened when he saw her begin to get shy. "Was that your only question?"

"Oh, uh, yeah," she said as she began to back away. "I'll just… see myself to the door now," she said as she walked away.

"Okay… see you later," Darien said, waving slightly.

Serena smiled and waved before running out the door, feeling like she'd just won the lottery.

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The Diary of Serena Bryant

Still April 16, 2006

He said YES! Well… he said," I'll go with you," AND that he WANTED to go with me, not that he had too.

Oh… I made myself look like a complete lunatic though… I was hiding in his cabinet and I saw this massive spider drop down… but before I saw the spider, I got to see him without a shirt on. He has a model's body. I've seen his body about… three times now? Once at the photo shoot, once when he was 'teaching' me, and today. I wouldn't mind seeing the rest of him.

I can't believe I just said that.

Hmm… I wonder what I'm going to wear at the ball…

I have to google a dress! I'll write more later.

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Darien was watching the news around twelve, lying comfortably in the bed when his earpiece beeped. He frowned and as he pressed the mute button on the TV. Usually, no one would call in this late, but he always kept the earpiece in, just in case, until he was for sure going to sleep.

Darien reached for the microphone pin, which he kept by his nightstand. "Hello?" he spoke into it.

"I had a nightmare," he heard Serena's familiar sweet voice fill his ear. "I tried to sleep, I really did, but every time I close my eyes, it's like a flashback," she started explaining.

"Do you want me to come over?" Darien asked, sitting up in bed.

Serena paused for a moment before saying," Is it okay if I come over to you, instead?"

Darien furrowed his eyebrows," I don't know if that's a good idea, Serena. What happens if your parents check-up on you?"

"My parents haven't checked on me since I was thirteen," she said as he heard rustling, probably meaning she was climbing out of bed. "Please? I can't sleep."

Darien sighed as he gave in," Okay, fine. I'll leave the door open, I need to go put on a shirt," he said as he got out of bed. He usually only slept in boxers.

"Thank you," she said, sounding happy before she beeped out.

He got out of bed and opened the door quickly before grabbing a random shirt out of his drawer and throwing it on. It was a simple white t-shirt.

Serena soon came in, clutching a pink pillow. Her long hair was down, and her pajamas had bunnies on it. She looked innocently adorable as she padded in, wearing bunny slippers to match.

"Sorry for bothering you," she said, looking embarrassed. "I can leave if you want me too," she said as she started having doubts once she was seeing him face-to-face.

Darien shook his head," No, it's okay. You're already here," he said with a smile. "Come on, you can sleep in my bed, I'll sleep on my couch," he said as he gestured towards his bed.

Serena frowned as she shook her head furiously," No! You sleep on your bed, I can sleep on the couch. I'm already bothering you I don't want to take your bed too."

"You're not bothering me, Serena," Darien said as he walked to her and forcibly grabbed her to pull her to his bed. "I'll be fine on the couch. I'll be up for awhile anyway, so I'll just stay in my semi-living room area," he said as he pointed to where the couch and desk was.

Serena looked at him to make sure he was completely fine, before climbing in his bed, slipping out of her bunny slippers and pulling the blanket over her. She had school tomorrow so she had to make sure to wake up at the right time to get ready. "Do you have an alarm clock?" she asked once she tucked herself in.

Darien nodded as he walked to turn off the light where the bed was before walking over to the lighted "semi-living room" area to take a seat. "Yeah, don't worry, I'll wake up. I have to get ready also," he said as he reached grabbed a book by a desk and put on reading glasses.

He looks good in glasses, Serena thought as she secretly watched him in the darkened room. She could see him fine from where she was at. "I didn't know you wore glasses," she commented as she watched him.

Darien looked up from his book and smiled," Yeah, only for reading though. Go to sleep, you have school tomorrow… and people to face," he reminded her.

Serena pouted at the thought of tomorrow. She'd have to talk to the person she dreaded most; Ethan. She'd turned off her cell phone the rest of the weekend because she knew her friends, including Ethan, would call.

Darien knew she was quiet because she was thinking about it. "Serena, you're not going anywhere near him, don't worry," he said as he looked at her outline.

"I don't want to go," she said quietly, to herself, but Darien heard her.

He put his book back down as he got up to walk over to her. When he was next to her, he leaned down so he could see her, making her look at him. "Nothing's going to happen, okay?" he said in a gentle voice. "I promise."

Serena stared at him and nodded.

Darien reached out and moved part of her bangs out of her eyes, and ran his finger lightly over her cheek, sending shocks of electricity through Serena. "Now, go to sleep," he whispered before leaving her side to take his seat on the couch again.

The place where Darien touched her on her cheek still tingled as she smiled to herself. She was still afraid of what tomorrow brought, but she knew if Darien was there, everything would be okay.

She closed her eyes and let sleep take her. This time she wasn't afraid of what she'd see, because all she could see, was Darien.