Coffee Shop

Chapter 6

Joyless Euphoria

"OH MY GOD!!!"

Pulling her eggshell colored phone from her ear, Serena winced a little at her friends screech.

"Hold on, hold on, the girls are here! Give me a second, don't you DARE hang up!"

Laughing lightly, Serena assured her friend she would do no such thing.

In the background she heard Mina ushering all the girls towards her phone, alerting them that Serena was on the other line.

"What? No way! She's actually calling us!?" Serena cringed a little at Raye's declaration… It had been too long since she had spoken to all of them.

"I want to say hi first!"

"No, ME!"

"I'm her best friend, guys!"

"Mina, we're all her best friends. So… Shut up."

Gosh, I miss you guys…

"SPEAKER PHONE!"

"Hi Serena!"

"Girl, we miss you so much!"

"How's college??"

"Meet any cute boys?! Details! Details!"

"Mina! Let Serena speak, I'm sure she has much to tell us!"

"Oh Amy, you're SO boring…"

"Oh jeez, I've missed you guys…" Serena said.

"We've missed you too! How have you been?" Lita asked.

Serena went into full detail about all of the things that had happened since she had last talked to her group of friends. She felt as though she was talking for years, feeling as though she'd never be able to completely fill the girls in on her new life. She talked about her new town, the new cozy apartment she was staying in, and of course, the incident at the coffee shop.

Needless to say, the girls were hanging on her every word.

"…And then he walked me home and I haven't seen him since then." Serena trailed off.

"Oohhh, girl you got it bad." Mina piped in.

Serena blushed a bit at her comment. "Oh, Mina. I just met him. If I haven't seen him since then it was because it was just the other day! If anything, he's probably just being nice."

"Oh please, Serena. You wouldn't know flirting if it hit you in the face! Get to know him better, you dingdong. You never know!" Raye said into the phone.

"I guess you're right…" Serena said. "I just don't know if I'm ready to meet just another guy again, you know?"

"Oh Serena" Amy soothed "You'll be fine! We all learn from our past experiences and grow from them. I'm sure you'll be fine!"

"Thanks Amy" Serena smiled. Her friends were still as amazing as she remembered. Just as she opened her mouth to something, her phone began to beep, signaling a low battery.

"Aw poop…" Serena muttered under her breath. "Sorry guys, but it looks like we blabbed my phone to death. My battery is almost dead. I'll call you guys soon though, okay? I miss all of you very, very much!"

"Awww, okay Serena, but make sure to call us back! We want to hear more juicy details about this boy!"

"Yeah! And I'll make sure to email you some yummy recipes later. I know you must be starving over there!"

"And stop being so dumb, meatball brains! Go make out with that guy already!"

"Raye! That isn't lady-like at all! Serena, please make sure to catch up on your reading before school begins. You can't start class unprepared!"

The phone beeped again.

"I will, Amy." Serena assured, with a small smile on her lips. "I promise!"

"Bye Serena!" They all said into the phone.

"Bye guys!" And with that, Serena placed the cordless phone back on its small receiver that lived on her end table. The small click that it made as she put it down was the only sound that could be heard in the small apartment.

The following day, Serena decided to go back to the small coffee shop. The night before had been showered upon by an angry rainstorm and the town had become drenched. Before leaving her small, yet cozy, apartment, she grabbed her favorite blue pea coat that hung on a golden hook next to her front door and put it on. She wedged the big navy blue buttons into the wool of her double-breasted coat, grabbed her purse by the thick leather strap it was attached to, and with the sound of a click she locked her door and was on her way.

Her heels made a small splashing noise as she stepped in a small puddle on her walk down the street. The rain was still coming down, but it didn't bother the young blonde. I love the rain… She thought to herself as she closed her eyes for a mere second, feeling the small drops hit her face. Her long golden locks were protected from the weather underneath the hood that was attached to her coat and only her delicate features were exposed to the rain. Studying her surroundings, she realized that the streets were mostly deserted. I guess not everyone enjoys this weather as much as I do… She silently thought to herself. Rarely did she see someone else walking hurriedly past her, attempting to escape the droplets that fell from above. Taking these sorts of walks helped her clear her mind and relax. I'm so happy I called the girls. It's nice to catch up with them after moving over here… I have to remember to check my email and print out the recipes that Lita promised to send me. I wonder if her and that one guy ever got together. I'll have to ask her that next time we speak. Looking up at the sky, Serena noticed the dark clouds creeping over what was left of the exposed blue heavens. The rain began to fall harder, and Serena quickened her pace ever so slightly. It's been so long since I've been out in the rain… Actually, I don't think I've been out in the rain since…

Suddenly a memory flashed back into Serena's mind. Visions from her past filled her thoughts as she kept walking through the stormy afternoon attempting to ignore the memories that haunted her. The more she walked, the more she remembered, and the angrier she got. God, I hate him… Trying desperately to think of something else, she failed miserably and was filled with regret of past events. Her brows began to furrow and a group of wrinkles appeared on her small forehead as her lips were pursed into a fine line. I hate him sooo much! Serena was so wrapped up in her own thoughts, her own fury, that she didn't even realize when the raindrops stopped falling upon her.

He had been reading the same page for about an hour and he had registered nothing. Not a single sentence, nor word.

"It is WAY too quiet in here." He said to himself. Grabbing his cell phone that had been lazily thrown on the couch next to him earlier that day, he pressed a random button and waited for the screen to light up. He fidgeted with it for a moment, silently hoping he had some sort of text message or missed call to keep him entertained for at least five minutes. Realizing he had nothing new on his phone, not that he really expected to have anything, he threw it back on the couch and went back to the book that he left on his lap.

"This is ridiculous." He said. "I'm probably the only person in this entire town that can't read when it's absolutely quiet." Running a hand through his hair, he remembered how all throughout his youth he had always suffered with that random quirk.

While all the other studious students in High School and first years of college went to the library in order to study in some peace and quiet, Darien found himself going to crowded parks or busy book stores in order to concentrated on his task at hand. This had always boggled his mind, seeing as though he was always an incredibly independent individual, who preferred to be by himself instead of with a big crowd. Instead of being somewhat sad and somber about moving away to college, like the rest of his classmates that graduated high school with him, he was actually looking forward to it, seeing as though he wouldn't know anyone and didn't have to deal with people he had known since grade school. Deciding that the world was filled with many idiots and that the people he had maintained a friendship with throughout the years were the only people he needed in his life, moving away was no big deal at all- neither was not knowing anyone in a new town. That all changed the day he had discovered the local coffee shop that resided a few blocks away from his apartment, which he had decided was the best place to study in. Thanks to that he had, somehow, become friends with the owner, Andrew.

Andrew… He thought getting up. I guess I can go pay him a visit, have some coffee and maybe get some reading done. And maybe… Walking over to his bedroom, he felt a small smile tug his lips. Walking towards his closet, he slid open his closet doors and searched through his clothing for his favorite jacket. Maybe I'll run into Serena. Memories of her slender shape and long blonde hair flooded his mind.

Echoes of her giggle rang through his ears and the way her big blue eyes held so much life shone through his mind. It had been quite some time since Darien had been so incredibly infatuated with someone, especially after not knowing them for that long. Usually all the women he met were incredibly dull and lacked any type of personality. When he bumped into Serena, he was amazed when he could physically see the life in her eyes - the spark that let him know that she wasn't just another air headed blonde. It had become his silent mission to get to know her better, and after he was able to fend off the creep at the book store and walk her back to her apartment, he was even more determined to see her again.

After what seemed like eternity, he found his favorite black coat and put it on. Grabbing his book bag from his bed, he walked back to the living room and stuffed it with the book he had been reading earlier, his cell phone and reading glasses. He had recently acquired his spectacles, but was apprehensive about wearing them at first. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that he had secretly convinced himself that they made him look a bit more intellectual. Grabbing his car keys from the coffee table, he glanced outside his balcony doors. Watching the rain hit the glass, he decided to put the keys back down on the wooden surface. Looks like a great day for a walk… Walking to his hall closet, he grabbed his black umbrella and walked out the door. After double checking that his door had locked correctly, he made his way down the hall. Suddenly in a better mood, his hopes high, he even greeted a neighbor or two. He almost ran back into his apartment though, when he saw Autumn walking towards him in the hall. Autumn was quite literally your typical girl next door. She had her eye on Darien ever since he had moved into the apartment a few doors down from her, and needless to say, the handsome young man had been utterly repulsed ever since. It wasn't that she wasn't attractive, per say. Autumn had something about her that made Darien generally uneasy. The blank look in her big brown eyes made him wince every time she attempted conversation with him. Realizing that retreating back to his apartment after obviously making eye contact with her would be incredibly rude, he decided to give up and attempt to get away by merely greeting her in the hall and going on with his business. He did after all, have somewhere to be.

Passing by her in the hall, he pretended to fidget with his cell phone in order to not make eye contact with her. He thought he was home free until he felt a small, yet playful, smack on his arm. Looking up, he looked up at his neighbor.

"Hey, silly!" Came her screechy greeting.

Hiding his cell phone into the pocket of his black slacks, he turned to the girl next to him.

"Hello, Autumn." Darien said politely and kept walking. Autumn walked next to him and attempted to force some sort of conversation out of him.

"What are you up to today, Darien? Where are you going? I hope you're not going out into the rain right now because it's, like, raining and you'll like… Get wet! I mean I know you have a huge umbrella but… Oh god. That sounded terrible!" A blush crept up to her cheeks and Darien couldn't help but feel irritated. How immature and ridiculous can you get?

"Th-that's not what I ment! Oh jeez, that came out wrong. Um. I ment you had a huge umbrella for the rain! And…"

They had reached the end of the hallway and Darien looked over at the two sliding doors that would grant him his freedom.

"I happen to like the rain, actually. Walking in it is no bother for me at all."

"Oh… It's not? I hate it. I hate getting my hair wet, and then my sneakers get soggy and then…"

Darien was trying his hardest to ignore the poor girl. Walking over to the doors of the elevator, he pressed the round plastic button until it was consumed by it's bright red light, indicating that the elevator would soon be to his floor granting him the freedom that would take him away from his annoying, and oh so immature, neighbor.

"And then you get home and your jeans are soaked to the knee and –"

Ding!

"Sorry, Autumn, but the elevator is here. I need to go take care of a few things. Have a lovely afternoon."

His last words were barely even heard, for Darien had taken a mad dash into the elevator, leaving Autumn behind him staring in confusion. The last thing he saw was her blank brown eyes, before the big doors of the elevator slid shut.

That was the stupidest encounter of my entire life.

Darien couldn't help but look at the umbrella in his hand and chuckle.

Once he had finally gotten out of his apartment building, he immediately noticed that the rain was starting to come down pretty hard. Opening up his umbrella, he began his journey towards the small coffee shop. That was when he saw her.

At first he thought it was his imagination, but after focusing his attention on the person walking only a block in front of him, he realized that it was indeed Serena.

She was walking in the rain as if she didn't have a care in the world. Her dark blue peacoat hung to her small frame, and her blue hood hid her golden locks from the harsh rain. His stomach flopped over for a split second, and a blush crept up to his cheeks. Get a grip, Shields! Since when do you get butterflies? Ignoring his thoughts, he quickened his pace in hopes of catching up to the gorgeous blonde.

Just as he was a few feet behind her, he noticed she seemed rather troubled by something. The hand that was hanging by her side as she walked was suddenly clenched into a fist and her pattern of walking had changed. Hoping there was nothing wrong, he sped up his strides, caught up with her, and placed his umbrella between them shielding her from the rain. Say something, you idiot! Don't' just stand here like a creep!

"Hello, Serena." His voice had finally decided to cooperate with him. Unfortunately, it was as if the blonde didn't even hear him. What on earth?

"…Serena?" Still, nothing. By this time they had walked almost half a block together, Darien holding the umbrella over both him and the young woman, and yet it was as if he wasn't even there. Furrowing his eyebrows, he raised a hand and waved it in front of her.

She fluttered her lashes a few times and turned to face him, a look of surprise in her eyes.

"Darien?"

Darien stopped walking and turned to face her. Leaning his head down a tiny bit he looked her straight in the eyes. "Are you okay, Serena? You kinda spaced out for a bit."

Looking up at him, she couldn't help but notice how incredibly handsome he was. After his question, all that she could hear were the loud raindrops that were crashing down on his umbrella. His umbrella. Looking down at her shoes for a minute, as if trying to collect her thoughts, she looked back up to him. Their blue eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them said a word. His dark blue eyes looked down at her with concern.

"I'm fine." She said quietly. "Just lost in my thoughts, I suppose."

Straightening up, Darien looked down at her yet again. "Are you sure?"

Lifting her hand to her mouth, she looked at him with embarrassment. "I'm sure. Sorry, I was just… Thinking too much, I guess." She gave him a small smile.

He couldn't help but smile back. She's so adorable.

They began to walk again.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing out in this weather? I thought girls hated going out in the rain." Darien asked, looking down at her as they made their way down the puddled streets.

"Are you kidding? I absolutely love the rain. The cold weather is my favorite. I was actually heading down to the coffee shop… I could use a blended drink right about now." She said.

"No way. You actually have those things on cold days?" He asked, a hint of shock in his voice.

"Of course! I love cold treats when it's cold out. It makes them even better. What about you? What brings you out here?"

"Well. I was actually heading the same way. I was bored in my apartment and quite frankly, I couldn't get any reading done. I thought I'd go pay Andrew a visit and then I ran into you." His lips held a small smile as he finished his sentence.

"Well, then. Let's go! We're almost there." Smiling up at him again, the two continued their walk towards the small coffee shop.

The rain clouds began to creep closer and closer towards the small town, promising a night of thunder and lighting to all of those who resided in it.

AN: Here it is, months later, chapter six. Please review, it's the only thing that keeps me motivated. Have any ideas as to where this story should go? Please don't hesitate to share 