KYA! How could I be gone so long? I'm very sorry. Anyways, enough of my yapping. On with the fic!

Disclaimer: Working on it…but..not yet.

"Not bad...for a fraidy cat!" He stared at her in disbelief before closing in the ravage her again. He attacked her neck before jokingly splaying fat, juicy kisses on her face.

"I'll show you not bad!"

Her soft cry was unheard as their session lasted through the last of the fireworks. Neither cared deciding who needed fireworks..

Can't Stop the Music

Chapter 10

The arcade was as lively as ever as Serena floated her way to her regular stool.

Andrew watched with curious eyes and attentive ears at every little sigh she made. It wasn't the sighs that made him wary. Nooo. It wasn't even the big gushy eyes or the fact that Serena was up at 8 AM on a Sunday. None of those were what had caught his attention.

It was the fact that she was there in big, fluffy bunny slippers, with rollers in her hair, and a pink night gown on that scared him.

Now that was just weird.

"Is everything alright Serena? You seem a little…off."

He eyed her choice of attire critically. Was she awake yet? Did she even know where hell she was? Or did she think she was just sitting down in her own kitchen? Another wistful sigh made its way out from her lips. Just then, as if shocked, she sat straighter and looked right at him."

"Oh! Hello, Andy!" She smiled warmly gaining a little more alertness. "What are you doing here?" She blinked curiously, her smile never wavering. He, on the other hand, was scared shitless about how she was behaving.

"I work here, Sere."

His voice was deadpan and calm just in case. He didn't want her running about screaming like a banshee in front of his customers. She just tilted her head innocently and smiled another one of those sunny, if not disturbing, smiles.

"Well, isn't that nice? How wonderful!"

By now Andrew wasn't sure whether to run and hide or find out what she was doing here.

Damn his curiosity.

He decided to go about her like he normally would. He quickly brought her a milkshake and watched with morbid fascination as she looked at it strangely. "Aren't you going to drink it? You always drink your milkshake." If she was offended she didn't let it show. Instead, she shook her head violently and pushed the dairy dessert away.

"Oh I couldn't possibly. I'm not even very hungry right now."

If people hadn't noticed her sitting there before they did now. All movement ceased in the arcade as it grew deadly silent. Somewhere in a remote corner you could hear the dying words of a moth as it screamed "My slpeen!"

Everyone diverted their attention to the oblivious blonde at the counter. No one had ever heard Serena utter those words in the same sentence before. SHe had never denied herself food. Especially free food. Andrew's brain tried to process the words that had just left the confines of her mouth.

Not hungry?

Since when was Serena ever not hungry? What monster had done this to his friend? "Are you sure you're okay, Serena? Maybe you should go home and rest." His words were gentle and caring, but Serena just kept on smiling. Hell, if she wasn't acting so weird he would even go as far to say she was glowing.

"I'm absolutely wonderful! I've never been better in my whole life! Well….except for maybe when I tried my first milkshake. Have you noticed what a beautiful day it is?" She ranted on and on about the wonderful planet earth. In fact, she didn't even stop when she got up to leave. "Maybe I'll go for a nice walk today. Hell, it's so hot out I might just swim instead." And with that the doors closed behind her.

While Crown Arcade was left with hormonal aftermath of hurricane Serena.

The mental casualties would be tremendous.

In another part of town, a very confused Darien sat. The park was the only place he could sit and think. He had paced his living room until the room seemed stuffy and confined to him. So, without a second thought he wandered until he found himself in the middle of the park.

The weather was breathtaking and soothing sounds were all about him. So why was he in such inner turmoil? Why couldn't he enjoy such a beautiful day like everyone else clearly was? Certain images plagued his mind. Images of blonde hair flowing freely, sweat dripping down shapely defined body parts, and hot kisses up the stars.

It was all her.

It was her fault he couldn't think about anything else but tasting her again. Her fault that he couldn't go out with anyone else who didn't resemble her. Her fault he always compared his female companions to her.

Her.

But most of all, it was his fault for letting her get to close. The simple partner relationship had given in to attraction and pretty fireworks. Now he had to choose how he was going to act upon it. Darien knew he couldn't lead her on like this. He wouldn't let her think he loved her. Cause he didn't. A small pang went through his heart at those words.

He would not act on carnal desires. If it meant getting rid of her he'd do it. He'd just have to find another partner to dance with. He start audition again tomorrow. Partly appeased with his decision, Darien formulated a plan that would sever all ties with the feisty blonde. They had practice that night, so that was when it would go down. He'd have to crush her feelings for him before they got any deeper.

Even if it meant ignoring his own feelings in the process.

Serena was running slightly late meeting Darien for practice. She had painstakingly done her hair and make-up before leaving. She had even gone as far as to buy her dress for when they finally competed against other dancers. Hopefully it would make him drool as the lady in the store had commented. But, as she made her way to the studio doubts formed. Would he think she was desperate for caring more about her looks whenever she was around him?

She had no time to contemplate the answers as she opened the door and entered the lion's lair.

Music was playing a short, choppy beat as Darien danced passionately. Serena watched from the doorway as he completed every move flawlessly. She had to admit that wasn't the only thing she had been watching. Her eyes traveled over his form appreciatively. She had watched his leg muscles flex with the turning of his body, and the sinewy muscles of his chest as he finished the song breathing heavily.

She clapped timidly and approached him as he dried himself off with an availible towel. "That was amazing. I can't believe how good you really are. I mean, of course your really good why wouldn't you be?" She slowly looked away as she listened to herself bomb over and over again.

Houston, we have a problem, and its name is hormones.

Instead of him commenting he looked straight at her. Their gazes locked and Serena's words died in her throat. She couldn't find the warmness she had seen the other night. His eyes looked more like the first time they had met. Distant and nonchalant. She stood on the tips of her toes and touched his face gently. "Darien…what's wrong?" He only shook her hand off and stared at her contemptuously.

"I want you to leave."

Those words stabbed her straight through the heart. He turned his back to her and started putting new music in the CD player. Sere struggled to find her voice at his abrupt dismissal. "B-but…what about the competition? Don't you need a partner? What will happen to me?" She ran behind him and grabbed his arm to get his attention. His cold attitude was rubbing her the wrong way.

"Why should I care what happens to you, Serena?" He spather name out like it was foul. "I can find a new partner. You weren't that good, you know."

If he had peeled her skin off with his bare hands it would have hurt her less. Her eyes filled with unshed tears. She wouldn't let them fall at his cold treatment. She put a little more volume in her voice before she spoke again. "A-and what about…the-" But Darien stopped her before she could continue.

"The kiss?"

His bark of laughter was harsh. He turned quickly on his heel to face her. He pace was quick as he stood before her chest to chest. He leaned down so he could be eye level with her.

"You thought that kiss meant something? I was just looking for somewhere to vent my frustrations. You were more than willing so I took the chance." He sneered at her broken look. "Don't even make that face. You're not even a good kisser. What makes you think I would want a virginal, inexperienced, little girl like you?"

The blows were really going to Serena's already fragile ego. Was this brutal man the same one who held her so gently? Kissed her so passionately? What had happened to the man she fell for under the stars?

"I…you said…! What about what you told me? What about that?" He just shrugged carelessly.

"I lied. Don't tell me you believed it? Typical. You really are too trusting and innocent!" She didn't stay to listen to the rest of his harsh verbal abuse. She ran like a coward. How could she stand up to him after sharing such a special moment with him yesterday. But as she ran that moment seems years ago. It was just too much. Tears trailed behind her as she ran down the studio steps and out the door.

When she got outside it was pouring. She had to say the weather matched her mood. So as the rain poured down, the crushed blonde walked aimlessly mumbling to herself. "Not good enough…ugly…nothing…not good enough…" Her vision was blurry with tears, and her hair stuck to her face. She didn't care because the rain was too thick to see through anyway.

She also didn't realize where she was, nor did she care. Her moves were mechanical. She didn't want to face the world right now. The screams of other people didn't register to her. So she didn't know what happened when car wheels screeched and her vision went dark.

"Oh my god, somebody call an ambulance! There's too much blood!"