Serena stood in front of room 218 looking at the door. She felt as though it were a medieval tower looming over her with mysteries hidden inside.

"Go ahead in," Mrs. Anderson supplied with a smile and a slightly brusque push toward Darien's door. Instinctively, Serena's hands reached in front of her and pushed the door open. She looked back cautiously to see Amy's mother standing outside with a grin on her face, but not following. Serena proceeded into the room but saw little more than a television in the right corner of the room. The bed across from it was surrounded by a baby blue drape that gave the patient privacy.

"Maybe from people like me," she thought. Still, Serena stifled her uncertainty and walked forward allowing her shoes to shuffle against the floor.

"Um, hello. My name is Serena and I'm a new volunteer. If there's anything you need just let me know and I'll be glad to help or we can just talk…,"Serena's eyebrow twitched and her nervousness was replaced with irritation. How dare he not answer her! She marched over to the curtain and yanked it back so that Darien's bed was completely exposed. She was startled by what she saw.

There lay Darien Shields, sound asleep. His head and waist were both bandaged. Meanwhile, two crutches leaned against his bed post. From the appearance of a slightly larger left leg under his sheets, Serena inferred that it was broken. What truly shocked her was his face, though. He was, in short, gorgeous. Serena couldn't help but stare at his features in awe. His silky ebony bangs lay gently across his forehead and he overall had the features of Michelangelo's David. With his eyes closed and mouth slightly open he looked like a little boy. He was obviously not fully grown, too. Mrs. Anderson was right; he could only have been two or three years older than Serena.

She took a seat next to the window and tried to get comfortable. For thirty minutes she simply stared at the sleeping teenager. Thoughtfully, she compared him to other guys she normally saw. Absently, an image came to mind: Melvin hopping around the room, index finger pointed to the sky and meaningless gossip spurting from his mouth. Her face darkened at the thought. Fortunately, her thoughts returned to the hospital room as she heard stirring from the bed. She looked up to see Darien sitting upright peering at her. He looked slightly groggy as he stared at the blonde.

"Meatballs…," Darien rubbed his eyes. His voice was manly and soft, but in the instance, hesitant. "Floating meatballs?" Serena looked around unsure of what he was staring at. She finally swatted the air above her head and had an epiphany. She felt the pigtails in her hair and looked back at the patient accusingly.

"What?!" Serena shrieked like a bird," I'll have you know; these are pigtails and not part of an Italian dish!" Darien blinked and caught Serena off guard. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his long lashes and cool, sapphire eyes. When they readjusted he once again stared ahead. Suddenly he leapt back shocked. Serena did likewise; she was as startled by his movements as he was by her presence.

"Whoa! It's a girl. What is she doing here?" he thought.

"Who are you?" Darien asked regaining his control. His voice turned solemn and questioning. Serena was once again caught off guard by his cool question.

"If you hadn't been asleep this whole time you would've known that my name is Serena, I am a volunteer, and these," she emphatically pointed to her pigtails," are not meatballs!" Darien grinned at her bold and almost rude nature. She was funny and a looker, too!

"Don't have a cow. Your hair just reminds me of spaghetti. You can't blame me though. You've got the long blonde hair for the pasta and buns for meatballs," he chided. Serena was obviously not amused. She simply crossed her legs, folded her arms and looked at the wall the television was on.

Meanwhile, Darien stared at her from toes to meatballs. He took in the beauty of her pure skin, golden hair, and big, blue eyes as if they were works of art. Soon after, Serena turned her head and her vision zoomed into Darien.

"What are you staring at?" she spat at the dazed young man, "It's like you're reading my mind! I can't even focus on my show!" she continued to whine.

Darien looked at the television, completely unaware that it had been playing. On the screen was a girl several years younger than Serena jumping about dodging what looked like her shadow. Hiding in a building resembling a school was a girl with a camera glued to her face and a stuffed animal floating beside her.

"You caught the Shadow card!" cried the television. (A/N: can you guess the TV show?)

Darien shook his eyes from the screen and refocused his attention to Serena. Her eyes pored into his flesh, demanding an explanation. Darien thought rapidly of an adequate response.

"Uh- I just wanted to ask you a question," he covered.

"Yes?" she questioned in return.

"Well," Darien looked around the room, "I wanted to know…"

"Yes?" She wondered what was taking him so long.

"Uh, could you please get me a jell-o?" Darien laughed in his head at the stupidity of his question.

Serena fell on her head. That was his question? She looked up at him requiring proof that was his true request. All she received was a smile full of sincerity.

"Please?"

Serena stood up finally and brushed her lap off. Then, she walked towards the door. Before turning the knob, she looked back at Darien. Surprisingly, he was now fully engrossed in the television show Serena had just been watching. She smiled and walked outside the hospital room.

During her short journey to the cafeteria, she saw none other than Mrs. Anderson. After much grilling on how she was getting along with "her new patient", Serena was exhausted. Serena escaped back to Darien's room out of breath but with jell-o victoriously in hand. When she at last heard the door click behind her she sunk down to the floor with a heavy sigh. When she looked up, she and Darien's eyes locked. Instead of relishing the moment, Serena blushed and rushed over to his side.

"One order of jell-o, right up!" she shouted like a waitress. "Though, I kinda forgot to ask you which flavor you like. So I got strawberry, seeing as that is my favorite flavor. Well, my favorite flavor besides chocolate. I love anything with the words chocolate, cocoa or fudge in it. Sadly, those only exist in the world of pudding, but you asked for jell-o so here it is." Finally, she shoved the jell-o and a spoon into his hand with a hopeful smile.

"Thanks, Meatball Head. Appreciate it!" he said graciously. Unfortunately, it did more to rub her the wrong way.

"Are you having a problem here? Do I need to spell my name? Fine. I will. S-E-R-E-N-A. Serena," she complained before Darien could take his first bite.

"Well, you know what they say about first impressions; they last a lifetime."
"Well, you won't live a full one if you keep teasing me, bucko," she threatened him with her fist for emphasis. Darien sighed at the realization that this newly acquired habit of his would not be beneficial to him in the long run. If he were to be her patient for the rest of his stay they had better get along.

"Well, er, Serena, how about we make a deal? Name a price and I'll pay it every time I accidentally call you buy…uh…that nickname," he reasoned.He smiled to himself.

Serena, deep in thought, did not notice the dreamy gaze he wore. What shall he pay? Then it hit her.She smirked as she spoke.

"How about each time you call me that, I get to tell you a St. Olaf story!"

"Are you serious? As in the Golden Girls? Nothing is more painful than that!" Darien cried.

"I guess so..wait-how do you know about the Golden Girls," she asked suspiciously. Darien lifted his hands in defense.

"Uhm, well it's a bad idea. Let's think of another one." The pair crossed their arms and hunched their shoulders in thought.

"Darien, are you smart?" she finally asked. Darien lifted his head confused.

"Yeah, I get good grades, but what does that have to do with anything."

"Nothing, except the fact that I won't be able to come here if I don't bring up my grades," she explained. Darien blinked.

"Well, how bad could they be?" he asked fearing anything but the worst. Serena simply walked to her black school briefcase, dug in the main pocket and pulled out her most recent math test.

"Thirty?!" Darien could not help but shout. "That's a really bad mark! I mean, this isn't normal for you is it?"

Serena nodded ashamedly. She kicked her feet together.

"I try, I really do. I just don't get how all these numbers and letters work together." Darien sighed.

"What am I about to get myself into?" he wondered.

"Fine. I'll help you, Meatball Head," he said endearingly.

"Hey! That counts! You have to pay for that…just as soon as I figure out what to make you do…," Serena said. "Aha, I've got it!" Darien shuddered. It seemed her brain only kicked into gear when it was plotting something less than nice.

"Well, Darien. How about you have to tell me a story?" Serena said slyly with a double nod.

"Me? Tell a story?" Darien asked in disbelief. "Yeah, right. You can't possibly expect me to-"

"Yes, a story. That's the deal! You in?" Serena interrupted. She soon thrust her hand out in a truce. Darien hesitated.

"Under one condition."

Serena's hand faltered slightly.

"Yeah? What is it?" Serena asked with a pout.

"I get to pick the topic!" Darien cried.

"NOOOOOO! Men don't know what to consider a REAL story! I wanna hear about rainbows, and unicorns, and ice cream shops; not lizards and baseball and business!" Serena asserted. Her eyes started spinning at the horrible thought of sitting through a story about men who learned to solve quantum physics by picking their toenails.

"Geez, this isn't the opera! Enough wailing, okay! I won't talk about lizards, baseball, or business," Darien extended his pinky. "I promise." Serena stifled her whining.

"Deal." Serena grabbed his pinky and shook it.

"Deal."

Just then, Raye knocked on the door. Beside her waited Amy, Mina and Lita. Before Serena could walk to the door, Raye poked her head in the doorway.

"Do you know what time it is?" Raye asked languidly,

"No? Why? What time is it?" Serena asked as Darien watched quietly.

"Well, why don't you keep a watch? You should keep up with these things!" Raye scolded. By now, her body was fully in the room, opposite Serena.

"Excuse me, for having better things to do than buy watches." Serena huffed. She crossed her arms and pointed her nose in the air.

"Better things to do like what? Play Sailor V video games at the arcade? Or stuff your face with doughnuts?" Raye taunted. Shortly after a blonde, brunette, and blue-head poked their heads in the doorway and sighed.

"Not again," Amy whispered.

"Their fighting won't end until the fat lady sings," Mina added.

Serena and Raye were full out yelling now, causing Lita to wince.

"Well at least I'm not a pyro-maniac like you!" Serena shouted.

"At least I'm not a super klutz like you!" Raye retorted. Afterwards, both girls proceeded to make faces and stick their tongues out at one another.

"I'd hate to interrupt this entertaining match, but it's already 8:30," stated a long-forgotten voice. All five girls turned their attention to the crippled boy sitting up in his bed.

"He looks like my ex-boyfriend," could be heard from across the room. Amy blushed slightly as Mina leaned over the girls for a better look. Raye dropped her stance and flushed a deep red out of embarrassment. Serena, already familiar with the man's looks, chose a different reaction.

"What?!" she shrieked. "I have a ton of homework and I was supposed to clean my room before dinner! I am so dead! Gotta go! Bye, Darien! See you tomorrow!" In a gust of wind she dragged Raye out the room and rushed her friends out the hospital doors. Darien looked at the door with a mildly confused expression, then smiled.