Chapter Thirty-eight

Celebration

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"This place is so beautiful in the winter. All the snow looks so pretty on the trees." Serena said looking off the balcony at Darien's.

"Yah. It truly is beautiful here in the winter." Darien said wrapping his arms around Serena's waist. "You don't know how happy I am to have you back again."

"I can only imagine." She laughed. "So when do you go back to school?"
"Tomorrow."

"Maybe I should come and go to my classes." Serena suggested.

"If you want to. Did Yella make an appointment yet?"

"Yah, it's for Wednesday."

"So the day after tomorrow."

"Yah."

"So do you want to go tomorrow?"

"I don't know. I mean it would be weird. I missed so much school before I was taken because of Jarrett and Conner. I don't know what to do."

"Why don't you stay at Yella's and get the rest of your stuff situated. Then you can just come on Wednesday and go to the principals office and then to your classes." He suggested.

"That's a good idea."

"So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?"

"Well, I still need to get your birthday and Christmas gift. And the gifts for everyone else."

"I can drive you to different stores." He offered.

"Okay, then you can tell me what kind of things the guys like. They never gave me that list."

"That was only because they really didn't want you to get them anything"

"Oh well. They'll learn fast that when I want to do something, I'll do it. Just ask the girls." She laughed turning around in his arms.

"Yah, I've figured that out too." He laughed.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Good."

"Good." She laughed again.

"You're laugh is so cute."

"Just like you." She said quickly giving him a kiss.

"That was completely spontaneous." He said after they finally broke the kiss.

"Like I said, when I want to do something, I do it."

"Well I'm glad you did it."

"Now let's get going. The more time I have the better."

"Wait, I want to give you something first."

"What is it?"

"Your birthday present." He said grabbing a box out of his coat pocket.

"I haven't even gotten you anything yet. Can't you wait?"

"No." He said holding the box in his palm. "Open it."

"Fine." She sighed then giggled. She opened the box and saw the necklace and gasped.

"Do you like it?"

"I-I…I-It's…." She paused.

"I'll take that as a yes?"
She nodded her head. Darien took the necklace from the box and showed Serena the opposite side.

"It's so beautiful." She said.

"Do you want me to put it on?"

"No, it wouldn't look right on you."

"Ha-ha, very funny."

"But, yes, thank you so much."

"Anytime." He said as he clasped the backing. "There."

"Thank you." She said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"No, thank you." He said closing the space between them.

"I can tell this is going to be a good year."
"How can you tell?"

"I have all my best friends by my side, and I have you by my side too. What's not good about that?"

"True. This is going to be a very good year." He said.

"So let's get going." She said pulling him to the balcony door.

"Okay."

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"I'll be in in a minute." Darien said picking up his ringing phone.

"Okay."

"Hello?" He answered.

"Hey Darien."

"Hey Andrew, what's up?"

"Not much. The guys are here at the crown celebrating and they forgot their phones. The girls too."

"Celebrating?"

"They said to tell you they all said yes. Whatever that means."

"Oh. That's awesome."
"What does that mean?"

"They proposed, and apparently all the girls said yes."

"Oh. That's great. Anyways they were wondering if I could call you and Serena and get you guys to come over here."

"Sure. Serena is just Christmas shopping, and I'm driving her around. So I'll let her know and we'll head over there in a few."

"Okay. I'll let them know."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Yup. Bye."
"Bye." He said hanging up the phone. That's great.

He walked in and quickly found Serena.

"I'm hungry." She said.

"Who else do you have left to shop for?"

"After I buy this, no one."

"That was quick."

"Well I'm usually pretty good at picking out gifts for my friends."

"Well then why don't you buy that and we can go get some lunch at the Crown."

"I don't know. Last time you suggested we get something at the Crown, there was a surprise party waiting there for me." She laughed.

"Well there's another surprise waiting there too."

"What is it this time?"

"I can't tell you, but I can tell you it's a celebration party."

"Celebration?"

"Yah. So if you want to figure it out, then let's get going."
"Okay."

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"So what are the big smiles for?" Serena asked walking to the table where her nine closest friends were sitting.

"Well…" Raye started.

They were too happy to say anything so they did what Serena had done just days ago. They held out their hands, each hand containing a different yet beautiful ring.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH" Serena screeched.

"Whoa, whoa, it's awesome and all, but it won't be worth it if we can't hear." Raye laughed.

"Sorry. It's just so exciting." She said.

"Yah. Congratulations to everyone." Darien said from behind her.

"I have presents for all of you." Serena said.

"What, why?"

"Christmas just passed. That's why."

"Whatever. It's a lost battle." Mina sighed.
"Glad you know it." Serena grinned. "So when we're done here, we can go back to my house and you guys can open the gifts."

"Fine." Amy sighed.

"Is it bad when all of us get engaged before Yella?" Serena laughed.

"Well it just depends on when you meet your special someone." Zac said.

"What are you guys talking about over here?" Andrew asked.

"My aunt. We're all engaged and she doesn't have a boyfriend." Serena answered.

"Really. That's surprising."

"Does Andrew like Yella?" Serena asked in a taunting voice.

"I've got to go." He said walking to another table where a group of teenagers were sitting.

"I knew it. He does like her. I wonder if she likes him." Serena wondered.

"Serena, why don't you let them figure out their feelings?" Darien said.

"But playing matchmaker is just so much fun." Serena laughed.

"Yah, it's our job." Raye said.

"Yah, I mean if it weren't for us, you two might not be going out right now." Mina said matter-o-factly.

"True, but still." Darien said.

"No buts. I want to do it. Do you remember what I said earlier?" Serena asked.

"True."

"So I'm going to go invite Andrew. Be right back." Serena got up before any protests could be made.

"Hey Andrew." Serena said.

"Hey, what's up?"
"Not much. The bunch of us were going to gather at my house so I could give them my Christmas gifts. I have one for you too. It'd be awesome if you could come with us to my house."

"Well I'm off in about 15 minutes so why not. I'm sure I could come over for a little bit."

"Great. Just come on over when you get off and we head over to my place."

"Okay. See you in a few."

She walked back over to the table. "He's off in 15 minutes. Then we can go to my place."

"Sounds good."

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"Hello?"

"Hey Yella, it's Serena. We're all heading over there now. I have Christmas presents for everyone. Andrew is coming too." She informed.

"You love to do this to me. Don't you?"

"You know it! We'll be there in about 10 minutes."

"Okay. I'll be here."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

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"We're here." Serena yelled through the open door.

"Hey, come on in."

"I'm going to go get the presents out of Darien's car." Serena said.

"I'll help." Darien offered.

"Okay."

They retrieved the gifts and handed them out to the respective person.

After all were done opening their gifts, the group sat and talked about nonsense. Before they knew it, it was nine o'clock.

"We should get going. We do have school in the morning." Mina noted.

"Wow, nine already." Zac sighed.

"Yah, good idea. Let's get going." Darien said.

"Bye." The whole room rang.

Soon only Serena, Yella, and Andrew were left in the once crowded house.