I know, I know… I'm just as shocked as you are. I actually updated. Hooray for updates! I apologize how late this is (the new semester has begun!) but it is better late than never, correct? Well, as some of you guessed, it is a spin off of the movie Groundhog's Day with our two favorite lovers thrown in. So, let's see how Darien can handle this…

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Darien continued to stare at his alarm clock as if the woman had just announced the end of the world in the most cheerful voice he had ever heard. Had he heard correctly? Were they running yesterday's broadcast once again by accident… or by some sick joke? Wasn't yesterday horrible enough already? His spirits had already been crushed… perhaps so badly that he was dreaming about it…?

His instant reaction was to turn away from the alarm clock, burying his head tight against his pillow and thrusting the blankets over his head to block out the sun and singsong voice. He begged and pleaded for sleep, but the calmness that had engulfed his mind minutes earlier refused to return. With an annoyed groan, his tossed the blankets from his form and rolled out of his bed.

With his hands resting upon his hips he stared at the alarm clock, waiting for someone to correct this mistake. However, the girl's voice continued on, sugar coated with love and the kind of joy that only a holiday could bring. He buried his face in his hands, pulling in a few deep breaths before lowering his hands. "All right... I know I dread this holiday ever year, but dreaming up the entire day before it even happens?"

That had to be it… that was the only explanation. He had dreamt of the entire day… all the hurtful things he had said to his Meatba-… his? He was certain that had been a piece of the dream. The feelings that had made his heart and mind race could not have been anything but a trick of the brain. However, there was a twinge deep within his chest that refused to accept that excuse.

He pressed the button to stop the voice from entering his mind, jutting the room into complete silence. He needed a moment to regain his composure – perhaps a shower would wake him up. Undressing, he stepped into the shower and encased his body in the warm water.

"Much better…" He sighed, feeling rejuvenated and clean, in the same outfit he had worn typically everyday. Although he despised this holiday more than any other, he felt confident that it would be a wonderful day. He had already dreamt of the worst possible situation, so it was virtually impossible not to improve. With a genuine grin on his face, he stepped out of his apartment and headed to – where else? – The arcade.

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Darien almost laughed at the sign of Andrew, a grin plastered across his face as bright as the sun in the sky. He completely forgot about his darling Meatball Head sitting at her favorite video game and instead walked straight to the counter where Andrew waited. He took his usual seat and Andrew poured him his usual cup of coffee – was this predictability the life or what? Stability, he loved it.

"Hey Darien," Andrew said in the same voice as the dream. The same tone, the same giddy notes. Everything was exactly the same.

"What's up, Andrew?" Darien picked up the conversation he knew he had already enjoyed in his head. Andrew chuckled and handed him his coffee, as Darien knew he would.

"What's up? Dude, it's Valentine's Day!" Andrew claimed, little hearts practically sparkling in his eyes…again. Although Darien had already predicted this day, it was still no surprise that Andrew was excited about this loving day. He had the love of his life, Rita. He had someone who cared for him. "It's…"

"The most romantic day of the year…" Darien finished for him, perhaps a little more cheerful than he meant to sound. Like a little boy with a new game, he was twisting this day every way he could.

Andrew scowled at Darien, waving a finger at his ever-pessimistic friend. Darien offered little more than a glance. "Come on, Darien… you're like this every single holiday. Why don't you go out? Mingle? Is it honestly that hard to snatch yourself a woman?"

"Mingle?" Darien's mind traveled off to the events that happened very soon after this sentence. Meatball Head would wander over here and madness would ensue. He decided to bring it to a halt before it ever got into motion. He looked around the arcade and finding his target, he grinned, "Sure, why not?"

There's my blonde…

My? Stupid, stupid…

Andrew stared in confusion; absolutely positive he had misunderstood Darien's response. Had he just agreed to mingle? On Valentine's Day? Was he sick? He followed Darien's gaze and decided that his friend had indeed lost his mind, "Uh… Dar…?"

Serena sat at the same arcade game, her little pink tongue sticking out in that same look of futile concentration. She pounded the buttons, her face nearly connected to the screen as she leaned forward, engrossed by the game. She groaned as an enemy broke through her lines, landing a fatal hit on her pixilated joy. She frowned, grumbling as she shuffled through her pockets for another quarter. Well, this was a chance to improve the day…

Serena's gaze flew up with the soft plunk of a quarter filling the machine, the game instantly chiming back to life. Her gaze followed the owner and stared, dizzy in confusion, "D… Darien?"

"You were looking for another quarter, weren't you?" A smooth grin slid across his lips. Serena screamed inwardly at her instant attraction… he could be so suave when he wanted to be. She couldn't find the words to express her amazement and settled instead for a dull nod. Darien's grin only continued to grow, "Well, this one can be on me. Happy Valentine's Day, Meatball Head."

The hairs on the back of Serena's neck instantly stood on end, her shoulders rounding at her hated nickname. Suddenly her vocabulary was ready and waiting. She folded her arms across her chest, her lower lip sticking out in an obvious pout as she glared at Darien's retreating form, "A quarter - nice investment. Probably the most you'll ever spend on a girl!"

"Investment, now that word is worth a quarter with you, Meatball Head," Darien said. His mind screamed at him to stop, to apologize for the nickname and offer to make it up to her. Old habits do die hard, don't they? His words left his mouth before he could think twice about them. "You better enjoy that quarter, it's not like anyone else will get you anything."

Andrew was just about to pinch himself, certain that he had been imagining this scenario, but just as soon as the dream had started, it had come crashing back down. Serena's eyes filled with tears, her lower lip trembling as she burst into wails. He saw Darien's shoulders stiffen as his friend stalked off back to his lonely cup of coffee. Sighing, Andrew went to tend to the fallen blonde.

"He… he's t-terrible, Andrew!" Serena hiccuped the words between her cries. Darien grumbled angry yet inaudible words into his cup of coffee, trying to enjoy the heat while it lasted. He listened as Andrew tried to stop the incessant wailing, wondering why he had even bothered to try.

Because you care about her…

"Absolute madness…" Darien spoke out loud, shutting his eyes against the thought. Why would he ever care for such a clumsy, ditzy and selfish brat? He massaged his temples for just a second before his concentration was interrupted.

"What is?" Andrew spoke, standing behind Darien. Darien opened his eyes, watching as the sniveling blonde sat in the seat beside him – the only empty on available. Pairs of lovers captured everywhere else.

"Her," Darien mumbled without a second thought, the words leaving his lips before he intended to let them go. Louder than he had intended… Serena's shoulders sank with Darien's heart and he could not help but feel déjà vu growing stronger with each passing second. Was his life meant to turn out this way?

"Serena's just sitting here because there's no empty seats available, Dar." Andrew glowered at his friend, patting Serena on the shoulder. Her facial expression changed instantly, sending daggers through Darien's heart.

"Welcome to the table of losers, Serena. You can be the dateless Meatball Headed wonder," Darien held up his cup of coffee in cheers. Serena did not meet his gaze, but simply stared at the top of the counter as if she were preparing to dissect it. Andrew smacked Darien, causing his coffee to drip on the marble top and then retreated to retrieve a treat for Serena.

Andrew had a way with women that had never bothered Darien until now. He was able to make any woman smile and fawn over him – which couldn't matter any less until it was concerning his Meatball Head.

His?

"So, Meatball Head," Darien started, leaning forward to prop both of his elbows on the counter, resting his chin against his palms.

"I don't want to talk to you," Serena seethed, lowering her head to her arms, which were resting folded on the counter. Darien stared at the blonde blankly, wondering if she was actually serious – she was always there to lend an ear, no matter what mood she was in.

To anyone but him…

"That's just fine, Meatball Head," Darien tried to let her words roll off of his shoulders like her couldn't care less, but there was a twinge in his voice that he could not hide, even from himself, "I don't want to talk to you either. I can't think of why anyone would. You have a way of ruining someone's day."

Lies. All lies. Every word he has just said was lacking truth like a dying plant needs water. His day was ruined… not by her. It was ruined by himself, by his stupid inability to keep himself from saying such terrible things to her. Twice now…

Serena's eyes glazed over with tears that brimmed in the edges of her eyes, pleading to fall. He could practically feel the pain it must have caused to hold them back… but she did. She stood from her seat and didn't offer him so much as a glance as she made her way out of the door. Darien was unable to stop his mouth from moving… and apparently the same was true with his legs.

"Serena, wait!" he shouted, grabbing her wrist as they exited the arcade. She wheeled around, staring at him with the tears she had so desperately hidden now streaming down her cheeks. He felt himself gulp, hardly aware of his own body. Just her skin… her soft skin…

"Can't you just leave me alone?" She screamed, ripping her wrist out of his grasp and snapping his mind back to reality. He had never heard her scream. He had heard her wail, cry, whine… but never, never in all his time of knowing her, had he ever heard he scream.

Her cheeks were bright red with anger, contrasted sharply by her radiant blue eyes that stung bright with her tears and anger. Her eyes were lighter when she was angry… he had always expected them to be a darker blue.

He had always expected them to be? Did he think of Serena that often? Was this more than just a holiday that caused his heart to beat so heavily in his chest? Was it more than cupid's arrow that made him dash out of the arcade after a girl that didn't even want to know he existed? Did he care that much?

"S-erena…" Darien stuttered, falling back nearly a step of two. Because of her screams? Perhaps… or perhaps because he had never seen her in this light… this caring light he somehow held for her.

"I can't stand you!" She screamed, shutting her eyes and causing only more tears to fall from her eyes. Darien winced at the words, feeling them burn deep within his heart. If he didn't care, then why could she hurt him this way? "Don't you get it? You ruin my day! Everyday!"

Darien could not find the words to explain himself, all he could think of was his desire to keep her from crying. He wanted to stop this pain, more for her than for him. His hands reached out against his will and gripped her shoulders in the most comforting manner that he could muster, "Serena…"

"No!" She jumped back from his touch like he was a hotplate pressed against her flesh. She stared back at him with the same upset eyes, the same torn spirit as before. He felt his heart and world crumbling around him, "I look forward to this day every year. I'm always so hopeful… and… and…"

What could he say? What could he do to make her stop this? His hand instinctively led back to her shoulder, but she pushed it away before it could complete its journey. She shook her head, lowering her gaze to the ground as she sucked in a few long breaths. When her gaze returned, Darien saw something he never thought he would see in her eyes – hate. "You took all my hopes away."

She might as well have said, 'I hate you, Darien.' To be quite honest, it probably would have felt better than the pain she left him with now. He did not attempt to stop her this time… simply watching as she let out one more sob, turning on her heel and fleeing down the street. He had taken her hopes away from her… the bright, cheerful, never dull, always happy Meatball Head had no hopes… because of him.

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Darien did not have to waste his money on a beautiful bouquet of roses or a fresh box of chocolates. His day had paralleled his dream so perfectly… he already knew where Serena must be now… wrapped up in the arms of that young man. The brightest smile lit upon her face as he drew her closer into his embrace, shielding her from the February weather.

His arms hung slack at his sides as he walked the rest of the way back to his apartment. His mind was clouded in pain and loathing of this holiday. All the happy couples that passed him on the street did nothing to ease the feelings that threatened to consume his entire soul.

Was it possible that he cared for her this much without ever realizing it until now? Was this a feeling of friendship or perhaps he even… liked her more than that? That would explain the twinge of jealously, but it was still too absurd to consider. Meatball Head and Darien… what a match made in… well… you can only guess.

Still, even as Darien crawled back into his bed, hoping the warmth of his blankets would sooth the day way, he could not helped but think back to the blonde. His arcade angel. She was so cheerful, so kind, so loving and happy… How could he have ignored it before? How could he let all the insults get in the way of his attraction to her?

Wait… attraction?

Was it even possible? Could he? Could he really l-…

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"Well, would you look at that," the red head cooed to the woman standing beside the glass pane. The woman responded with a low growl, tapping her fingers in obvious annoyance against the glass.

"It just needs a few more days, that's all… Love takes time," she muttered through clenched teeth, staring at Darien's sleeping form through the glass. He was so stubborn, but he was starting to get the idea.

"Please, I would have had this done in one day," The read head laughed, leaning back against the pane and grinning.

"This is my job and I intend to finish it no matter how many time he needs to be put through this. He will realize his feelings soon enough," she responded, glaring at the red head.

"Oh, I believe he already has," the red head giggled in response, waving her hand to the man in the bed, "He just needs to get the girl. Good luck with that."

"Oh well, Darien…" the woman stared through the glass pane and snapped her fingers, "Here we go again…"

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"…Yesterday you'd forgiven me,

But it will still be two days 'til I say I'm sorry."

The music filled Darien's ears, crashing him from his pleasant dreams back into his dismal reality. He glared at the alarm clock, greeted with the blinking numbers. "This same song again? That's twice… no three times… wait…"

"Rise and shine, lovers! It's that time of year!" The announcer chimed from the alarm clock's box. Darien's heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening in response to the message the alarm clock had just delivered. "Happy Valentine's Day! That's right, the day of romance and love is upon us! Whip out those boxes of chocolates, wrap up those bouquets of flowers… it is time to get it on!"

Oh no…

Well! That's the second chapter! Let me know what you think. Love it? Hate it? Let me know!