Chapter Eight
I Love You
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When Serena finally woke, she saw two figures quietly laughing in the corner of her room.
"What are you two doing here?" Serena asked while rubbing her eyes.
"To visit you, remember I told you I'd be by after school." Darien reminded.
"Oh...okay, hey Raye, where's everyone else?" She asked.
"Well when we got here...an hour ago, you were asleep." Raye informed.
"Yah, so we told them that we'd call when you woke." Darien finished.
"Oh, well thanks for coming guys." Serena said.
"No problem." Raye said, "Hey, I'm sorry for yesterday, I should have more faith in your ability to protect yourself."
"No, I totally understand where you're coming from, I'm sorry Raye." Serena said as she walked over to where the two were sitting.
"Well you two can argue, but I just want to say sorry Serena." Darien said breaking up the fight.
"Why are you sorry, you have nothing to be sorry for." Serena asked, totally confused.
"Because if I didn't come here this morning, you wouldn't have rushed to come down, and you wouldn't have fallen." He informed.
"No, it's not your fault, I'm just naturally ditzy." She and Raye couldn't help but laughing.
"That is true." Raye agreed.
"Well I don't care, I still feel it's my fault, so if you ever need something, don't hesitate to call." Darien offered.
"Fine, be stubborned!" Serena joked.
"Yah, yah, yah. But seriously, I can drive you places if you'd like." He said.
"Okay, thanks. You are a really good friend!" Serena said before leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.
The three sat there and after a few minutes Raye called the others. They arrived and talked about the days events, and how everything went at school and stuff. Before they knew it, it was dinner, so everyone left to go to their houses.
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As the next day rolled around, Serena got up early. She new it was gonna take some time to walk to school. She got ready and headed out.
As she was walking she saw a familiar face. "Jarrett." She called out, hoping he would stop.
He turned around and headed towards her, spotting her arm in a sling. "Hey, what happened...was that why you weren't at school yesterday?" He asked.
"Yah, I'm really clumsy, and I was rushing out of the house and fell down the stairs...and just sprained my wrist" She informed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." She nodded off the concern in his voice. "Let me help you with your books."
"Okay, sure. Thanks."
"So, I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me sometime. I was gonna ask you yesterday at school, but you weren't there." Serena didn't say a word. "So do you wanna go out sometime?"
"Well." She had stopped walking now. "I don't really think it'll work with us, I mean, we just don't have practically anything in common. You know what I mean, I just don't think we'd work."
"Not this again." He mumbled so quietly, Serena almost didn't hear him.
"What, again? I'm so confused." She said leaning against a wall. "It's not that I don't like you, it's just..." she sighed, "I think I fell for Darien."
"Why him?" He sighed and started walking again, still holding Serena's books. Serena was to preoccupied watching him to pay attention to where they were going. He lead the way into a alley and stopped. "You of all people should know what I'm talking about, I've loved you since the day I saw you. I'll never forget the day when I saw you walk into Mr. LeTarte's class and I fell in love with you instantly."
"But...I had him in...ninth grade..." She paused looking extremely puzzled.
"Wow, you sure are beautiful, but dumb. I guess in your case, dumb blonde fits perfectly." He said moving a little closer to her, pinning her against the wall behind her.
"Personal space is valued." He just got closer. "Please back off."
"Why?" He asked.
"Why won't I go out with you?" He nodded. "Because I don't like you like that, I've fallen for Darien. I feel safe when I'm with him...I am safe when I'm with him." Serena said.
Well good thing you're not with him then. Jarrett thought to himself.
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Darien was on his way to school, but before he got there, he felt some sort of pain at his heart. Someone I'm close to is in danger, my heart doesn't ache like this for just anyone. He tried to think of who it could possibly be when he thought of the previous day's incidents. When she fell down the stairs, and hurt her arm, my arm was hurting...could it be that she is in trouble... Suddenly he fell as he felt excruciating pain in his arm...the same one that Serena sprained.
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"Stop, what are you doing, you're gonna break my arm." She cried out in pain.
"I don't care." He said coldly
With those words, he pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the stomach. He then slammed her head into the wall she was standing against which knocked her out cold. She fell as he kept stabbing her with the knife.
He finally felt that his job was done...she wasn't dead, but she didn't have long. He didn't want her to die while he was there, but he wanted her to die a slow and painful death. If he couldn't have her, no one should.
As Jarrett was about to walk away, Darien stumbled around the corner. His aching heart was pulling him in the direction of Serena's body. When Jarrett saw him he hid behind a trash can that was in the alley. When Darien saw Serena's bloody body laying unconscious on the cement, he rushed over to her, pushing away the pain in his heart. As he ran over to pick her up, he felt extreme pain in his lower back.
"If I can't have her, no one can. I don't care if she fell for you." Jarrett said as he stabbed Darien one last time and ran off.
"Serena, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I love you." With those words, he fell to the ground, still holding her tight in his arms. He could've sworn he heard her say 'I love you too' before he fell into a state of unconsciousness.