Author's Note:

I'm going to put up this next chapter and take a break for a day or two because I hafta read Breaking Dawn! I'm so excited. I'd like to say that I'm very grateful to all my reviewers because although this isn't published- it isn't known to anyone but to the few who read it- I'm so gratified that so many of you like my work. I've always wanted to be a writer and this just encourages me more. I love your complements (obviously, I'm human and it boasts self esteem like nothing else) but if anyone has any criticism I'd love to read it because it helps me a lot to hear what you think. This story has become my longest ever written- it is almost 50 pages and before this my longest was about 40 (because they're incomplete) Let's hope this will also make the record of being my first ever completed tale! I'm excited to see where it leads… Enjoy!

FuturePrincess :)

PS I know my Serena can be extremely eccentric but I find her taking on some of my weirder traits the more I write about her- I like her better weird anyway ;)

You Again?

Chapter 11

My brain immediately went into hyperactive mode, making up as many excuses as possible for such a "misunderstanding"…

Except even hyperactive mode wasn't coming up with anything- no good enough excuse.

Excuse number 1: "Wow Darien! What a coincidence- our cars look exactly the same!"

Problem: How could I mistake the place I parked it?

Okay- excuse one is out.

Excuse 2: "Oh my, I forgot to put in my contacts this morning. I can barely see. My car is right over there." Then I'd point to some neighboring car.

Problem: How could I have seen the clock or anything else in the restaurant?

Excuse two out.

Excuse 3: "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahha………. hahahahhaha"

That is it... Nothing else to that excuse if you thought something else was coming after it. Just hysterical laughter until he runs away.

My mind went blank after those lame excuses for excuses.

Well, there is one other one that came to my mind but I mean… it is a little extreme.

You wanna know? Fine.

Excuse 4: (Punch Darien or through some other means damage his brain so that he'd either get a concussion and later I could convince him that this was all a figment of his overactive unconscious imagination or he becomes a vegetable and I never have to worry… well about anything other than going to jail)

See, told ya- a little extreme.

Well, hyperactive brain mode definitely isn't working.

How do I know?

It wasn't all that hyperactive at all it seems- if Darien's now slightly worried face is anything to go by.

It seems I've just been standing in the parking lot- unmoving and not talking.

I opened my mouth to say something but it just came out with a "uhh".

Darien's confusion seemed to- rightly- augment.

"Serena?" He said tentatively. Maybe now he thinks I'm crazy… well that could be my excuse! I'm crazy!

…

Only problem is that that would not in any way help my situation. I'm trying to get out of this embarrassment not dig myself into a deeper hole- if it can get any deeper.

Then it just came out.

The laugh I mean.

It seems my stupid not-so-hyperactive brain chose for me…

Before I knew it I was laughing- a very loud, very high-pitched laugh that was completely and utterly fake.

Then my mouth moved for me.

"Oh my, you know what?" I said without any conscious decision to speak, "I used to have a car exactly like this one! I sold it a few months ago and after seeing it- well, as much as I can when I've forgotten my contacts- I must have just forgotten." And then I was banging my head with my hand and saying, "Doy."

Oh. My. God.

I was mortified.

Not only had I used a weird combination of all my possible excuses (except for the violent one) but I'd also said the word "Doy". Who says "doy"? Who?!

NO ONE! THAT'S WHO!

Yes- Oh. My. God. is right.

Darien looked at me with a mix of that previously confused expression as well as amusement.

Well, I can't blame him, now can I?

"Well, I better go find my actual car." I said and then laughed again- the weird, creepy, high pitched, fake laugh.

I walked away from him. Running across the street as fast as I could. There was a parking lot across too- I could pretend I parked there and just across from that was my bus stop.

By the time I got to my destination I was having trouble breathing- I don't exercise much.

Well, it wasn't the most graceful exit but it worked.

I didn't even think to look behind me- to see if he'd followed me (Why would he? After all- he probably thinks I'm crazy now. Who goes after crazy people?)

I would have sat down at the little bench but there was a little old lady and a young woman with a baby in her arms occupying it so I settled for leaning against a light poll and breathing.

Once I caught my breath I turned to the young woman and elderly lady.

"Um, excuse me?" I asked tentatively- well as tentatively as I can while also speaking over the passing traffic. In New York you can never be certain if strangers will be friendly or not. Usually I either get the not friendly or the overly friendly- if you know what I mean.

But apparently today was my lucky day- well lucky right now. I could have used some of that luck earlier.

They both looked up with gentle smiles that reassured me of their kindness.

"When is the next bus coming?" I asked with a polite smile of my own.

The young woman answered first, "In about ten minutes. If we're lucky it'll actually be on time."

The three of us laughed slightly at that.

Buses are almost never on time. Traffic is always unpredictable.

The young woman went back to adoring her baby and the old lady stared up at the sky the way she had been before I'd interrupted.

Well, I wasn't expecting a conversation if that's what you're thinking. Just because they were kind enough to answer a question doesn't mean I'm going to push my luck. Crazy people aren't crazy at first glance.

And just as I was thinking this- about the crazy people- I heard a familiar cough from behind me.

Crap.

Crap, crap, crap!!

"Hello Darien." I said pleasantly, turning around to face him with a smile that was in no way genuine.

"Need a ride?" He asked with an amused smile.

"No, no. I'm fine." I answered briskly and turned back around to face the road.

I felt his hand on my shoulder and turned to look at him questioningly.

"My car's right over there." He said pointing to the parking lot right next to the stop- apparently he'd driven his car over instead of following on foot.

Well, woopdie-doo.

"I'm fine Darien. Thank you for your concern." I said with a smile hoping he'd go away. I'd already humiliated myself enough for one day.

"I can give you a ride." He reiterated. Ha. Like I didn't realize that already.

I shook my head because if I got in that car with Darien there is no telling what I would do next- how I would further embarrass myself. It seems around Darien I can't help finding myself in humiliating circumstances.

Maybe it is my fault- the way I act around him- but I'm blaming it on him. Him and his jerky self…

Except for the fact that he isn't being a jerk at all- surprisingly.

That jerk.

"Serena, it isn't a problem. Come on." He said and lightly pushed my shoulder back to face the direction of the parking lot.

"I'm fine. Go away." I said.

I know that wasn't the nicest thing to say or the nicest tone but I can't keep humiliating myself in front of him. It's getting ridiculous. My dignity has been devastated enough for a lifetime.

This time he sighed in exasperation.

"Serena, can we please just go?" He asked again darting glances around us.

I looked too and saw that the young woman and elderly lady were both staring at us with raised eyebrows, confused and if I'm not mistaken amused…

Then I saw non-eyeless guy come across the street to stand at the bus stop.

I may be certain that he has both eyes but with the coat and scarf and hat back on- it isn't even that cold (he must be a tourist)- he looks creepy again.

I mumbled an "okay" to Darien and followed him to the car. If I'm not mistaken Darien glared once at non-eyeless but creepy guy before he moved away with me.

"Want to explain what happened back there?" Darien asked- amusement now clear as daylight although I could hear some confusion in the mix of emotions as well.

I didn't answer. How was I going to explain my bizarre behavior? The only explanation I could think of was the truth.

Okay here I go…

"My car must've been stolen." I found myself saying instead and cringed at the absurd and completely lame lie- not that cars don't get stolen here or something, it is just that my tone gave me away. I guess I'm not that good of a liar.

"Uh huh," Darien said with clear skepticism. Then laughed when I didn't reply. "So what if you don't have a car?"

He seemed genuinely puzzled.

I rolled my eyes and glared at him.

"What happened to 'who rides the bus'?" I asked trying to imitate his voice from our previous conversation.

He looked at me- still confused. Then slowly he recalled the memory and rolled his eyes.

"You seriously think I'm that supercilious?" He asked, clearly offended.

"Only supercilious people use the word supercilious." I couldn't help but mutter then more clearly I added, "You said it," and crossed my arms stubbornly.

"It just came out, I didn't actually mean anything by it." He said but he clearly still didn't understand my behavior.

"I have a car." I found myself saying- although he didn't seem to care.

"Okay." He said with a shrug, not really caring (like I thought).

"It broke down and I can't fix it without spending enough money to buy another, better one. I haven't gotten around to buying a new one yet." I told him.

"Alright." He nodded.

Clearly, he didn't want to say anything that might even slightly upset me because he probably now thinks I'm off my rocker.

"I don't see why that would be a big deal." I heard him say but I'm not sure if I was supposed to hear so I ignored it.

What else would come out of my mouth if I opened it?

I'd just keep it shut.

We'd gotten to his car by now. He unlocked it with a click of the automatic locker thingie mabob and we got in without another word.

He began to back out of the lot and I let my eyes stray inside his vehicle.

It was neat.

No cups or random straws about like there always is (was, I suppose) in mine.

Figures.

He's neat.

What a jerk.

Then I found myself staring at a CD case and I couldn't contain my curiosity.

What does Darien Shields listen to?

I snatched it up without asking- I don't think that's rude (it is right there after all)

My face lit up at the sight of the first CD.

"Oooh!" I couldn't contain my enthusiasm.

Abba- Gold- Greatest Hits

I opened the little CD player thing and put it in.

First song and I was off in my own little world where I was a dancing queen at 17 picking anyone to be "that guy".

From my peripheral vision I could see Darien laughing at me- or maybe with me since I was laughing too.

I couldn't help but do my little dance- actually our (Mina and my) dance- searching for the guy, doing a little shimmy, and even a few random macarana and Travolta moves.

It was somewhat difficult since Mina and I would point at each other a lot- especially the parts about "you can dance" and stuff. So I settled for pointing at random people out the window and once or twice at Darien.

And if you are wondering if I was also singing- it is Abba, how do you not sing while listening to them?

Well, Darien didn't seem to have the same problem containing his inner Music Man but it is Dancing Queen- not King- I might have looked at him weird if he started singing/dancing to be perfectly honest.

Halfway through the song I did get my mind back and lowered the volume a little.

"Darien Shields, you've been holding out on me." I accused with a smile.

No one that listens to Abba can be that bad can they?

Author's Second Note:

I just wanted to say that I had to add something about Abba because after seeing Mamma Mia I've been addicted :) The scene with Serena and Darien is inspired by the same thing that happened with me and my friend. We found the Abba CD, put it in the car, and couldn't help but dance and sing like we were 2 :) Try it sometimes. It lifts the spirits right up! Also- try rereading the scene with Serena dancing while listening to Dancing Queen- you can imagine it way better!!