Chapter Twenty-six
Living Arrangements
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When Serena and Darien were finishing they're meals, Serena's phone went off.
"Wow, that was quick." She said, looking at her phone which read 'Yella.' She answered the phone. "That was quick."
"I only live about 30 minutes away. So where are you?" Asked her aunt.
"I'm at a cafe called the Crown, where are you?"
"Oh, I just drove by that place, I'm not even a block away from it."
"Oh, well I'm at the counter when you come in, I'll see you-" She was cut off.
"Now?" Danielle had walked into the cafe.
"Yella!" Serena hopped up to greet her with a hug.
"How are you my sweet niece...wait, what'd you do to your arm?" She asked, noticing the cast.
"Oh, well stupid me ran down the stairs too fast, and fell. I broke it..."
"Oh, well you need to be more careful. So other then that how are you?"
"I'm okay, how about you?"
"Fine, thank you. I didn't interrupt anything did I?" Asked her aunt.
"No, just finished dinner. By the way." Serena started, walking her aunt back to where Darien was still sitting. "This is my boyfriend, Darien. Darien, this is my Aunt Yella." She introduced.
"Hello ma'am." Darien held out his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Please, Aunt Yella, or just Yella will do. And it's a pleasure to meet the young man who makes my favorite niece so happy." She said, taking his hand.
"Okay, Yella." Serena giggled at Darien's words.
"So Yella, Darien offered his spare room to us if we want to stay there instead of a hotel. They have a spare bed too." Serena informed.
"That'd be nice, thank you Darien."
"No problem, ma- I mean Yella." Darien laughed.
"Well, Serena, darling, do you have school tomorrow?"
"No, holiday, remember, it's Labor Day. We don't go back until Tuesday."
"Okay, well I'm hungry. Do they have any good food in this place?" She asked.
"Yah. Andrew." Serena called from her seat at the counter.
"Yes?" He walked over seeing the other woman sitting with the couple. "Hi, can I get you something?"
"What do you suggest?" She asked to no one particular.
"Uh, Andrew makes a mean burger." Darien said.
"I'll take a 'mean burger' please." Danielle joked.
"Coming right up."
After they finished eating, the three decided to take Serena to her home to get some clothes.
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"Thanks again, Darien." Serena said, as she walked out of the spare room. Her Aunt still getting some stuff put away.
"You're always welcome here, your aunt too. But I have a question for you."
"Yah?"
"How old is your aunt? She can't be much more then 20."
"Oh, that's a fun story, well she is 21, and my grandparents had her at a late age. My mom was 15 when Aunt Yella was born, and I was born not 5 years later. So we've been like best friends, just a few years apart." Serena explained.
"That's kinda cool."
"Yah, I've always thought of her just as an older sister. OH, I should let the girls know she's here, they've always loved her too!" She said, pulling out her phone.
"Wait, look at the time, it's already 9. You can call them in the morning."
"True, I am beat too. If they find out now, they'll want to see her now." She laughed.
"It's been a long day." Darien admitted.
"That it has, and a long weekend too." She sighed.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Darien asked.
"Yes, no, I don't know. I mean I've lost my family, and miss them dearly. I just don't know what to do or how to feel." Serena said, eyes glistening.
"I understand, I didn't know what to do either. But you have the support of your friends, the guys, and me. I'll always be here for you." Darien said, moving closer to her.
"I know, and thanks, Darien." She said, giving him a hug. "I really appreciate it."
"Anytime." Darien held her tighter into his embrace.
Danielle was about to come out of the room before she heard Darien's 'are you sure you're okay' question. She really didn't know how to help Serena in something like this, but Darien knew how she felt and how to help her. Danielle didn't know how he knew, but he did, and that's what counted. She knew that Serena was happy with him, despite everything that was happening in her life right now.
After the two had sat down on the couch, she entered the room.
"So why do you have such a big house, Darien?" She asked, taking a seat on the couch next to Serena.
"Well, I have four friends who live here with me. They're at dinner right now I'm guessing." He informed.
"Oh, that's cool." She sat there for a minute pondering. "Serena, I have to ask, what are your living arrangements?"
"Well, I'm just winging it right now. I can't stay at my old house, and I don't have enough money for my own place..." She trailed off.
"What do you think about me moving out here, and you coming to live with me?" Danielle had been thinking about this the whole drive out here.
"I can't ask you to move out here, let alone take me in too."
"What else are you going to do, live on the streets?"
She has a point. "Well, no..."
"So what do you think?"
"I'd love it." Serena said.
"Good, because I wasn't going to take no for an answer." They all laughed, including Darien.
"You're the greatest Yella."
"Thank you. But if you'll excuse me, I'm very beat from my traveling and whatnot, so I'm going to bed now. Thank you again Darien for the hospitality."
"No problem, Yella. Any friend/relative of Serena's is a friend of mine." Darien smiled.
"I'm going to go to bed too. I'll see you in the morning muffin." Serena said, getting up from the couch.
"Night angel."
Ahh, teenage love. How cute. Danielle thought, leaving the two for the bedroom.
They shared a passionate kiss before Serena retreated to her room.
"You seem so happy when you're with him." Danielle noted, climbing into her bed.
"I am, he's really been there for me through...well everything."
"Everything?"
"Well it's a long story, but basically I was attacked last week. This guy wanted to get to know me so we went on a 'get to know you' type date thing. The next morning I told him that I didn't think it would work out and that I fell for Darien. Jarrett hated that so he stabbed me multiple times. Turns out he was the same guy who attacked me freshman year. Darien somehow 'sensed' that this was happening or something and came to find me, when he did the guy was still there, hiding, and jumped out and stabbed him too. We were taken to the hospital and they were going to arrest Darien for the attack. I woke up long enough to tell them they were going to arrest the wrong guy, but lost strength before I could tell them who it was. I eventually told them, but they couldn't find him. Then after we got out, we were taking a walk in the park and this guy was stalking us. We decided to sit and take a break till the lunch time rush so he wouldn't try anything and walked to the Crown. At the crown, the first guy that attacked me came in and started talking with this guy. Andrew was working and tried to strike up a conversation with the guys while we tried to get out. Jarrett left before Andrew got over there and the other guy, Conner, somehow ditched Andrew and started to chase us. We passed out and he 'kidnapped' us. Well when I came too, Darien and I were in a room, but we read this note and 2 minutes later, the note released some gas that put us back to sleep. When I came too again, I was tied to a bed, Jarrett was going to try to rape me. But Darien had been pounding at the wall that separated us and broke through it. He then ripped Jarrett off me and tied him to a chair. Conner snuck up behind him and Darien whirled around, landing a fist in his gut. He called the cops and the two were arrested. And then he was there for me through this whole thing." Serena explained.
"Oh my gosh, are you okay baby?" She asked, getting up to hug her niece.
"Yah, if it weren't for Darien, I think I'd be dead right now." Serena mumbled into her aunt's shirt.
"If you don't mind me asking, why does he seem to know so much about how you feel with your whole family thing?"
"He lost his parents when he was younger."
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be, now let's get to sleep, long day tomorrow." Serena guessed.
"Good idea."
A/N: Hopefully I'll upload ch 27-29 tomorrow (Monday) Sry for the slow uploads