CHAPTER EIGHT

At school, the first day after her declaration, Serena buckled down and got into the swing of full study mode. She had left for school at least half an hour early so she can chase her teachers down. From each of them she managed to obtain to obtain the full syllabus for that semester so can do the proper catch up. She was determined to devote every spare minute to studying. Her friends encouraged her and Amy and Ray had managed to find a copy of their study notes to give to her.

"Serena," someone called from the doorway of their homeroom.

Everyone gasped and Serena looked up to see who it was. Standing in the doorway was Darien looking at her and only her.

"Yes?"

"Can you come with me with your bag please," he said shocking everyone yet again.

Serena didn't have time to question why before he walked away so sure of himself that she would follow. She had no choice but to do as he had asked even as Mina and Lita tried to ask what was going on.

Serena followed Darien silently through the corridors of their school and down the stairs all the way to a secluded spot just outside of the science building. She was curious as to why he had picked this place for a meeting.

"I didn't want anyone to look out the window and cause even more drama with your friends," Darien said guessing the look on her face.

"Why did you ask me to follow you here with my bag?" she asked suspicious of his motives. She was sure that he had finally gone crazy and decided to murder her then and there and planned to stuff her cut of pieces in her own bag.

"Not what you're thinking, Meatball Head."

She grinded her teeth at that nickname.

"Well, why then?" Serena asked gritting her teeth to supress the frustration.

"It seems my mother has made a mistake when packing our bags this morning. She has given me your sports uniform and I suspect you have mine," Darien said pulling out the clothes with an offended look on his face.

Serena looked in her own bag and sure enough she pulled out the gym shorts and shirt it was clearly his size. He took his own clothes and dumped her clothes in her bag.

"I didn't want anyone asking those annoying questions that will ultimately lead to our situation being revealed. It's bad enough that I'm forced to live with you."
At that Serena saw red. She was just about to pounce on him when her diabolical plan reared its ugly head to the fore front of her mind again.

She smiled and said, "Yes, well, I wouldn't want you to get comfortable wearing women's clothes. You might enjoy it again."

Darien was about to leave when he heard what she just said. He looked at her, confusion clearly written on his face.

"What are you talking about, Meatball Head?"

She knew that he would have forgotten by now. She knew that the great and mighty Darien could never imagine that she, Serena Johnston, would ever know his secret.

"Tada!" she exclaimed as she pulled a photo out of her skirt pocket.

Darien's eyes opened so wide in shock that Serena thought they would pop out of their sockets. She smiled a smile that was just evil in nature.

"Where the hell did you get that?" he snarled.

"Your mom. She showed me the whole album and gave this one to me as a keepsake," she said looking at the picture of Darien dressed up as a princess. It was her favourite out of all the photos that she had seen.

"Give it!" he lunged for her.

Luckily she saw what he was about to do and managed to dodge out of the way. Then started a cat and mouse chase right in that little corner. Like their first tussle Darien's height was a great disadvantage. Serena used her petite form to weave in and out of his reach. It went for a good three minutes until Serena popped the photo underneath her shirt where he cannot put his hand in for fear of being slapped in the face.

"Serves you right, you jerk!"

"Alright, Meatball Head. Out with it. What do you want for that photo?" he asked resigned to the fact.

"Tutor me," she simply stated.

"Tutor you?" Darien asked incredulously.

"Yes. For the mid-terms. But you have to make sure that I reach within the top fifty."
Darien looked at her as if she had two heads.

"You are aware that only the students from Class 1 and 2 ever make it on that list, right?" he explained to her.

"Yes. But I should think that the great Darien Havers will have no problem with that," Serena said hoping to play to his ego, if he had one.

"Even a child can do better than you."

"Fine. I will just show everyone this photo," she said preparing to leave with her hand at the ready to take the photo out of her blouse.

Darien sighed and surrendered. Anything just to let this secret stay a secret.

"Okay. But be warned, I will not hold back on my tutoring ways," he said and walked away.

Serena gave herself a mental high-five. The best blackmail ever. Who better to tutor her to get into the top fifty than the resident school genius and no one will even know. She was a little devil, indeed.