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Chapter 7: Let The Games Begin!

Serena wondered what the hell she was doing. A few weeks ago, she had agreed to keeping up with a certain standard of living that she wasn't used to. Yes, she was born into this lifestyle of getting everything she ever wanted and never having to worry about money, but she hadn't ever been able to go photo shoots, fashion shows, or been followed by the paparazzi before. Her parents must have had some magic in their genes because most children of superstars were on a crash course to rehab by this point in their lives.

She looked at her diamond encrusted watch and decided it was time to go meet with Rei after all. She got into her car and drove off into the god awful bumper to bumper traffic that defined Los Angeles. Her cell rang as she drove and she shoved her Bluetooth earpiece in so that she wasn't distracted completely by her phone.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Hi sweetie," her mom greeted on the other line.

"Hi."

"I never got a chance to really see you last night. How are you?"

"Exhausted," she sighed, thinking about the club she had been to with Rei and Darien. "Last night was overwhelming. I didn't know what to do there other than stand and smile for the cameras or sit at the bar with a soda in my hand."

"I saw the pictures online. You looked gorgeous. That yellow dress was a lovely choice," she complimented.

"Thanks."

"So what's really bothering you?"

"I made a bet with Darien and Rei."

"What was the bet?"

"They think I can't live up to their lifestyle," she chuckled. "That's why I've been out and about so much recently."

"Oh dear…" Karen exhaled.

"Yeah …. So I'm off to a photo shoot with them right now for a magazine that's going to be promoting M.O.D. and the upcoming season," she stated.

"You've only done like two photo shoots, so this should be exciting," her mom replied. "I mean you've never been on set with anyone else."

"Yeah, should be interesting."

"Is Cooper going to be there?" she asked.

"I don't know. Why?" Serena responded curiously.

"He's trying to get through to your father in order to get Darien into our film," she explained.

"But Dad hates Darien! Why would he want to work with him?!" Serena exclaimed.

"My thoughts exactly. We're getting hit hard by the critics of our films asking why we haven't used him. He's been at his peak level as an actor for years now. There's no telling when he'll crash or if he'll crash, but your father believes we need to snatch him up before that happens."

"Every star burns out sooner or later."

"Yup."

"Well mom, I gotta get going. I'm coming up to my exit."

"Alright. Call me later. Love you."

"Love you too. Bye."

She continued to drive through downtown LA and made it to the studio that she was told to go to. She found Darien standing outside the brick building smoking a cigarette and squinting in the sunlight. When she got out of the car, she felt a wave of nervousness and anger flood her veins; this was going to be a weird day. She walked up to the doorway just as Darien was stomping out the last bit of the butt. She strolled into the studio with him trailing behind her to find the place already decked out with a grey screen background, four or five racks of clothing, and half a dozen of people as the staff readying up their areas. Rei was already consulting with a stylist to decide on what she was going to wear for the shoot.

"Hi Serena. Hi Darien," she waved while continuing to pull pieces out and examine them. She turned to the stylist and said, "I want this black lace and sequined top and these dark purple and black leather pants with a pair of silver heels."

The stylist, who was this short, chubby, dark skinned man, nodded and then looked over at Serena. He was wearing a pair of neon orange glasses, a pale blue button down shirt and light plaid tan pants with dark brown loafers; he was the epitome of fast forward styling.

"Dahliiiiin!!" he exclaimed as he walked up to her. "Whatchoo wanna wear for this shoot?"

"Um, I dunno. I haven't looked yet," she said slowly.

"Where are my manners?! My name is Julian! It's a pleasure to meet you!" he smiled, shaking her hand. "Now sweetheart, you got this great body with amazing gold hair … you should wear this!"

He pulled out a silver metal turtleneck dress for her that looked like it was made of giant, sparking fish scales. She kept her lips shut tight and nodded with a curious expression washed over her face. He then handed her a floral print top and pair of denim shorts with some black suspenders. Serena scratched her head and shrugged her shoulders.

"You're the stylist," she said.

"What is that supposed to mean?!" he whined.

"I don't have a sense of style, as you can see. I wear jeans and t-shirts with a pair of flip flops," she replied, showing off her blue v-neck, grey pants, and brown sandals. "Seriously, I'm not meant for this."

"Honey I saw you last night! You were exquisite in that dress!"

"Well, I had help from my mom," she smiled.

"You mean the va-voom va-voom Karen? Ugh! You come from a great pool of genes!" he laughed.

"Thank you?" she replied with a questionable look written across her face.

Julian looked over at Darien and arched an eyebrow, "And you sugar … you smell like my grandma's trailer."

"I just had a smoke," he replied nonchalantly.

"Mhmm," he murmured with sass. "You will not be allowed to smoke in these garments. Please go and wipe yourself clean with some body spray or somethin'. And don't use that god awful Axe crap. I will not have these designer duds smellin' cheap!"

Darien rolled his eyes and pulled his shirt over his head while a young woman came up and started to rub him down with a cloth that was scented with lavender and sandalwood. He glanced over his shoulder at Serena who was busy getting dressed in the first outfit presented to her. She looked uncomfortable in this setting, in getting stripped down practically against her will in front of other people. Darien on the other hand had felt all too comfortable with his body; he was, after all, used to this world a lot more than she was.

Once they were all dressed in their rather ridiculous clothes, they approached the set and started to pose for the camera. Serena was awkward at first, but after looking to Rei for guidance, she was able to get into the swing of things. Half way through the shoot, the photographer had a large fainting couch placed onto set and asked for only Serena and Darien to pose. She felt … odd. They were both dressed in unbuttoned tuxedo shirts with just their fancy underwear exposed. They had to lie on top of each other, look like they were about to kiss, bit one another's lips and ears as well as straddle the other's body like riding a horse. She actually started to study his chiseled body and the grooves that defined his muscles. He was attractive, yes, but his arrogance made him rather ugly.

Rei looked on at the exchanges between Darien and Serena as they continued with their sexy pictures. She bit her nail with curiosity and grinned devilishly; this was going to go splendidly. Serena would become enwrapped in Darien's personality and arms while she would take over the television show. She hadn't ever really been the main focal point in the series and when Serena scurried onto set like a scared little mouse, she knew she would never get a main role; "always a bridesmaid never a bride" was her life. So now that Darien was able and willing to take over this little blonde princess, Rei could finally step into the limelight for something positive instead of those hateful rumors that she was going to rehab or was anorexic etc, etc, etc. The only problem they had at the moment was his girlfriend, Lenora. Rei was going to fix that though; she would send the alcoholic girl to Europe to become a fashion model and hopefully get off of his radar. It was stupid of him in the first place to be toying around with a girl who had obviously been trying to get into the industry through someone else's pants.

"That's a wrap!" the photographer announced, cuing Rei that she could get undressed.

As they all stripped down and got back into their normal clothes, Darien led the way to the parking lot where he was able to light up another cigarette. Serena tossed him look of disgust while Rei pushed a pair of sunglasses over her face.

"So what now?" Serena asked. "Did I pass this test?"

"You passed … barely," Darien grinned.

"Barely?!" she exclaimed. "I think I did a very good job! I posed in underwear for Christ's sake!"

"Please," Rei scoffed, "only when you pose nude will I have any true respect for you."

"And it would have to be tasteful nude too. No Playboy," Darien informed her.

"Yeah, something Demi Moore-esque … Vanity Fair, black and white maybe … or in a field," Rei went on.

"Geez, sounds like you've thought of this a lot," chuckled Darien as he took another puff of his cigarette.

Ignoring his comment, Rei went on, "So tomorrow afternoon we're going to a fashion show for a charity. Would you care to join us?"

Not giving it a second thought, Serena answered, "Yes. That sounds like fun."

"Fun? You've never been to a fashion show, have you?" Darien said slyly as he stabbed the last of the white stick out into the brick wall.

"They're not as bad as he makes it out to sound," she comforted the blonde. "He just hates sitting by while women parade in front of him and he can't grab at them."

"I get my way backstage most of the time," he smirked.

"So I've heard," Serena replied, hoisting her purse higher up on her shoulder. Stepping closer to her car, she said to them, "Send me a text later tonight and I'll meet up with you guys tomorrow."

She got into her car and drove away from the two of them, her eyes bouncing up at their reflection in her rearview mirror. So far, what she had gotten herself into wasn't that bad. If anything, it would only put her in the best of light when the photos would be displayed on the entertainment news and blogs…she hoped.

Darien jumped out of his car and told the driver to wait for him while he went into the apartment building. This wasn't his place, it was Lenora's. He bounded up the four flights of stairs to her floor and was about to knock on the bright yellow door, but it was already open. He rapped his knuckles against the edge of the door and looked around her rather barren and chaotic apartment. The couch was wrapped up with plastic, there were boxes everywhere, shoes strewn across the hardwood floor, and in the kitchen all of her drawers were pulled open, empty.

He took one step inside and asked, "Hello?"

Lenora stuck her head out of the bathroom in the back of the apartment and smiled, "Hey baby!"

"Hey … um … what's going on?"

She ran up to him and kissed his cheek as she replied happily, "I told you! I'm moving to London!"

"When?"

"Tomorrow, silly. Geez, you don't listen to a word I say when we talk over dinner," she murmured as she turned around and headed for a bunch of clothes that were beside a half full box.

While she packed, he shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his head, examining the premises, "So where does that leave us?"

"Where you have wanted it all along," she stated.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She continued to fold her clothes into the box, "You don't like me being around you—"

"Because you're usually drunk."

"You can't stand it when I walk in on you and Serena—"

"Again, alcohol is a big factor."

"And you want to send me off to some spa, thinking you can just throw me away like trash!" she exclaimed, slamming a pair of jeans noisily into the box as she leapt to her feet.

"Actually, the correct title for it is a rehabilitation center, but call what you will," he shrugged. He sighed a little bit before stepping toward her and placing his hands on her slender shoulders, "I just want you to be healthy. Can't you see that?"

"Healthy?" she repeated with a furrowed brow.

"Yes, healthy! I shouldn't have to spell it out for you of all people; you worked at a fucking health magazine.

"And I got fired because of you!" she shouted, slapping his clutches off of her.

"Go ahead and blame me! Blame me for everything! You always do!" he yelled back.

"Oh fuck you!"

"Fuck you! God dammit! Why the hell did I decide to go out with you? You wanna know why? Because I thought that by having a decent relationship with someone, it would show Serena that I can actually be that kind of man!" he shouted.

"I guess you proved her wrong," Lenora replied snidely as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I guess I did," he murmured, shaking his head in disbelief at the situation that had unveiled so quickly. "I wish I could say it was nice knowing you Lenora, but it really wasn't. It was like taking care of a child most of the time … a child drunk on cheap vodka."

With that final word, he stormed out of the apartment with her shouting obscenities after him. He waved them away like a fly in the air and continued down the stairwell. This relationship had been a sham to begin with; it had to end sooner or later. When he made it out to the sidewalk however, he never expected everything to come crashing down on him – literally. A flying stiletto from her bedroom window was being chucked out right to his face with a giant smacking noise and a cut right down his cheek. He flipped her off, screamed that she was a crazy bitch, and then climbed into the black Lincoln car waiting for him while more shoes were raining on him. One of the Jimmy Choos ended up slamming onto the car, causing a crack in the window shield.

"She is so paying for that," Darien growled as he examined his cut and developing bruise in the rearview mirror.

"Are you alright sir?" the driver asked, looking over his shoulder.

He leaned back against his seat and nodded, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."

The next day, Serena arrived at a restaurant where she was supposed to meet with Rei and Darien. The two were out on the patio, sipping their sparkling water with their sunglasses shadowing their faces. Across the street paparazzi were snapping photos of them with long range lenses. Serena kept her shades on and sat down in between the two of them. She tilted her sunglasses down her nose though as she examined the short and shallow cut on Darien's cheek. She reached across the table and grabbed his chin so she could get a better look in the sunlight.

"What happened to you?" she asked.

"He got into a little domestic fight with his girlfriend," Rei answered flatly as she looked over the menu.

"Ex-girlfriend," he corrected.

"Did you hit her?" Serena asked.

"No," he answered defensively. "She threw a bunch of shoes out her window at me."

"Jimmy Choos, to be exact," Rei chimed in. "There was one left on his windshield."

"Wow … I never knew she was so violent!" Serena giggled as she opened up her menu.

"I did … sort of …" Darien trailed off.

"In the bedroom?" Rei finished.

"Shut up. Let's order," he grumbled.

When the waiter came around and took their requests, Serena said, "I'd like the burger, please."

"No," Rei stated. She looked at the cute, pearly white smile that was cut over the waiter's face, "We'll all have Waldorf salads please. Thank you."

Serena leaned back in her chair in defeat, "Why did you change my order?"

"Because there are people taking pictures," she answered. "Rule one of being under the scrutiny of the paparazzi; you need to choose your food wisely. Only eat fatty foods if you're at home."

"But I'm a normal girl," she argued, "shouldn't I be portrayed as such?"

"You're not normal," Darien exhaled. "You're upper class. Get over it."

"I'm—"

"You live in a mansion, you went to a private school, you've been raised with privilege, please stop trying to act like you're middle class like most of your fans," he interrupted. There was a tense silence for a moment and then he broke it, "I'm sorry Serena, but you weren't raised in a home where you didn't know where your next meal was coming from, you're parents weren't living paycheck to paycheck."

"And were you?" she asked him.

"When I was younger, yes. Then I got my first break here. I was lucky enough to be able to support my family. I still do to this day," he answered her.

That shut them all up as their food was served and they ate in silence. They still hadn't spoken when they received the check – which Darien picked up – and Rei led the way down the street and around the corner to a warehouse where there was a white tent protruding from the entrance. Serena followed the two of them into the warehouse and sat down at the front row of the audience. The place was already filled up and she noticed a lot of familiar faces from the film industry. The show was a mix of designers for a charity event to support children in Africa who needed fresh water and new wells built. The dresses that came down the runway were beautiful, flamboyant, and rather out there. It wasn't Serena's style, but like she had said before, she didn't have a style necessarily. When the event was done, Serena was ready to leave, but as it turned out, that's not what happens at a fashion show. She followed Darien and Rei to the backstage area where people were bidding on the designs in order to be the first ones to wear it out on the red carpet.

Rei scurried up to a bright red and fuchsia feathery dress and immediately spoke to the representative that was standing next to the model. She started to bid for the dress against some anti-aging woman who looked like she had spent too much time in the sun. Rei eventually won out, but Serena didn't see it happen; instead she was examining a long, fluffy blue dress that had white rhinestones encrusted on the top of the bodice and then drifted from a white color down to a deep, navy blue.

Darien walked up behind her as she examined the model in awe and said, "What do you think?"

"I think it's beautiful," she whispered.

"Are you going to get it?"

"Oh no, no, no, no!" she exclaimed. "This is way too expensive!"

"But it's for a good cause," the model said, her voice soft and flighty.

"I can't afford this!"

"Says the girl from a dynasty," Rei mumbled as she strolled up to them with a receipt in hand.

"Oooh, what dynasty?" the model asked with an airy tone.

"Don't speak," Rei instructed her curtly. "Models are human manikins."

The slender, obscenely tall girl licked her lips shut and looked over at Serena who merely passed her an apologetic expression from her blue orbs. Darien walked away from the trio of women and started to whisper in the representative's ear. Rei rolled her eyes at Darien and then pulled Serena away to look at the dress she had purchased. The two admired it until Darien returned and they were able to leave the premises. When they got outside in the sunlight, they were bombarded still by photographers and reporters. Serena got a bit nervous and looked to Darien and Rei for help. They merely kept their heads down and mouths shut as they pushed through to the sidewalk. They all parted ways and made it safely to their own vehicles. Rei and Darien got into her silver Mercedes and started to drive off.

"So … what did you get for her?" Rei asked inquisitively.

"I got her that Givenchy dress she was looking at," he answered.

"What?! No way!" she cackled.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" Darien replied.

"You're making this too easy for her," she complained. "She needs a tougher situation in this bet. I don't think Serena understands the repercussions of it all."

"What do you suggest?" he asked.

"I'll think of something…"

Later that night Serena was sitting on her mother's bed, staring at the fluffy and rough edged gown that had been bought for her. The card merely read, "From a prince to a princess." She didn't understand it completely, but her mother did. Karen always saw straight through the gifts, the flowers, the chocolates to what the man really wanted and Darien was no different.

"Be careful with this boy," Karen warned. "They're all alike in the end."

Her daughter nodded and kissed her goodnight as she collected the gift and headed off to her room. She would heed her mother's warning with diligence; she wasn't so easily blinded like most girls.

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