Author's Note:

No comments on the Abba bit last time, I'm a little surprised. I expected either people saying "wth?!" and yelling at me for being random or excitement because Abba rules. I'm curious- is it that no one reading this is an Abba fan? (what a shame...) or is it that that part went overboard and you just didn't want to complain? Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying this. This chapter is on the predictable side but I wanted to get more Darien action in... I could have kept you in suspense (and yelling at me for it probably) but I decided what the heck? Tell me what you think! This almost has 100 comments!! I'm sooo excited. You win a prize if you're number 100- jk, but if I could give you a prize, I would :)

You Again?

Chapter 12

I didn't say anything more for the rest of the ride and didn't even look over at Darien. Darien was quiet too for most of the ride to my house except for his occasional laugh at my out of tune singing.

He didn't seem to mind my singing or at least he didn't let on that he minded. I don't know if it would have made a difference either way. I didn't want to be in my reality- in which I had just humiliated myself in front of my former nemesis- I wanted to get absorbed in a different- more Abba- world.

Reality sucks. I'd heard that before but today just drove the point home.

At one point I did realize that I should give Darien some sort of instructions to get me home so I'd lowered the volume and told him. He nodded and took the proper lefts and rights to get to my apartment.

I didn't want to speak- because I was worried about what else would come out of my projectile mouth if I did so I hopped out of his car with a muttered "goodbye".

I saw his confused expression but that somehow just made me more annoyed and to myself I muttered, "forever… god I wish."

But, of course, I realized that this would not be our forever goodbye like I fervently hoped. Darien had somehow just become part of my life… for a very long time probably.

As I raced up the steps of my building and climbed the stairs (since the elevator was out of order… it seems—now that I think about it-- a lot of things in my life are broken aka my car, my heater, my building…maybe my brain if the humiliating scene earlier is any indication). I took two steps at a time in hopes that it would somehow make the trip shorter but that didn't prove to be the wisest decision. My legs are too short for that- I probably would have looked awkward to anyone who was watching, but luckily there wasn't anyone and once I'd gotten to the fourth floor- my floor- I was not just annoyed and embarrassed but also fatigued- climbing those stairs is my only exercise (besides the running away earlier…).

Once I'd entered my apartment I couldn't help but release the sigh I hadn't known I'd been holding and then lean against my door as it closed behind me.

I let my body slide down the frame and then put my head in my hands, feeling like maybe I was about to cry (but somehow not finding the energy) because there was no longer any Abba to distract me from the horrifying memories. No Abba to drown out reality…

and I'm telling you, reality truly does suck…

I had just retold the previous day's traumatizing events to my supposed friends when they all burst out laughing.

And I mean it, all of them. Talk about supportive.

We are gathered at my apartment before we head out to lunch. At first it was supposed to just be Amy coming so that she could give me a lift to the café we were going to eat at but then Lita, Ray, and Mina had called and said it would be nice to hang out for a while at my place beforehand. I hadn't argued. I had a lot to tell them and I didn't necessarily want an audience to their reactions. Right now I was very glad I'd chosen to stay home for this part of the afternoon. Witnesses would definitely not be good… especially since I'm contemplating homicide at the moment. Not seriously but still…

"You… mean… you just ran?" Ray gasped between bouts of laughter.

I gritted my teeth. I knew she'd heard perfectly well.

"You danced our middle school Dancing Queen routine?" Mina questioned incredulously between giggles.

"I like Abba." I mumbled.

That wasn't the right thing to say… They laughed harder.

Even Amy! Amy! I couldn't help but think this was mutiny. I mean, they are my friends- shouldn't they be more sympathetic towards my chagrin?

"The macarana?" Mina got out before she rolled over on the couch she'd selfishly claimed to herself.

"Now, now." Amy said reasonably and for a split second I felt a glimmer of hope.

Yes! This was Amy. Amy. My Amy- my kind hearted, loving, compassionate best friend. She would save me. She would be my savior…

And just as those benevolent thoughts flitted through my mind the traitor said, "Don't forget the Travolta."

That had them all falling over all over again.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms across my chest.

Lita had been the only one not to actually say anything throughout this. She'd just been laughing with them so I didn't have much hope on that front either… still… maybe, just maybe I had one true friend who maybe couldn't contain her amusement at the moment but would not turn totally mutinous either…

That hope vanished quickly too. As they started to regain some of their former composure Lita started doing a very drunken looking macarana.

Their laughter got louder.

"Et tu, Brute?" I accused.

"Sorry Sere." Amy said but she wasn't quite done laughing either.

"You'd think you would have at least been able to come up with a better excuse," Ray said, finally done chortling at my expense but not quite done with the snide comments apparently.

My arms tightened around my chest.

"You guys are the opposite of helpful."

Ray rolled her eyes.

"How did you expect us to react, Sere? You tell us that your hotty"- I grimaced at that- "enemy from high school comes back into your life and that that is what happened when you went out with him. How are we supposed to react?"

I glared back- not backing down.

"You are supposed to comfort me and tell me that it is all his stupid moronic fault. You're supposed to be on my side."

None of them seemed convinced by this.

"Sere, do you think maybe you're being a little unfair here?" Amy calmly asked which only fueled my rage. Amy is the most reasonable one of us- why doesn't she see reason??

"Unfair?!" I choked out, feeling even more betrayed by my genius friend. "As if!"

This is just sad. I'm resorting to elementary comebacks. Ray rolled her eyes- apparently she agrees.

"What did he do?" Ray asked, crossing her own arms. Ray has always been the most argumentative in the group. She thrives on this kind of thing- that is what makes her such a good lawyer, she doesn't back down.

"He… well he… was just a jerk! You heard what I said about his attitude towards buses. Like they're beneath the great Shields!"

That didn't impress Ray. She glared at me.

"Sere," she said reasonably (well, sounding reasonable but her words were anything but) "From what you said, he'd merely been confused by your weird qualifiers on the rules."

"But," I began but was cut off.

"Specifics Serena. What specifically did he do yesterday to justify your anger?"

Another reason Ray's a good lawyer- she loves to interrogate. I think she would've just loved to live in another century- one with an inquisition maybe.

"He…" I began, thinking it would all come to me as I spoke- all his snide comments but then I realized something… I had been the idiot yesterday, not him. I'd just blamed him for my behavior. Because let's face it, I only act that stupid in front of him. To him. "He just gets to me…" I concluded lamely.

"Well, that's not his fault is it?" Ray concluded triumphantly. "You have no one to blame but yourself."

I felt deflated. I thought this little gathering would make me feel better but it hadn't. It had merely depressed and further embarrassed me.

"Actually," I heard Amy say but wasn't paying attention- I was busy wallowing. "It is in a way Darien's fault. His past behavior has taught Sere to react a certain way to him. Just because now he seems to have reformed doesn't mean that all he's done is forgiven- certainly not forgotten." That caught my attention and I smiled thankfully at my savior.

"It's like Pavlov's dog. She's been trained to react a certain way to him." Amy said with a conclusive smile.

My smile faded immediately.

"Are you saying I'm Darien's lapdog?!" I accused, anger claiming me once more.

I heard a muffled laugh and turned to glare at Mina.

"No, no!" Amy quickly amended. "No! It is just that we get programmed to react a certain way. That is what Pavlov proved with the dog. Ring a bell and it comes. Habits and all," She gave a weak smile, trying to get back on my good graces. And she did as soon as she added, "His fault."

That mollified me a little.

Ray, of course, would not go down without a fight.

"But he's changed his ways. It is her fault she's still too immature to get past high school grudges." She smirked- happy with her logic.

"He still calls me Meatballhead." I retorted.

"He stopped when you made the deal." She countered.

"He laughed at me."

"You were being stupid."

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

We both realized how moronic that had sounded, she laughed first and I couldn't help but join her. I don't think I've had a "was not, was too" argument since before even high school.

That gave way to a small truce- agree to disagree sort of thing. That is the great thing about Ray- about best friends. They don't always have to agree with you (although it would be so much easier if they would!) but in the end none of it matters because we know we have each other's backs when it really matters. I have no doubt that if someone- even Darien- really hurts me (physically or emotionally) these girls (even Ray) would kick that someone's soon-to-be-very-sorry butt.

And as we settled the issue I heard the doorbell ring. I looked around me in confusion.

Amy-check, Ray-check, Lita-check, Mina-check… all of them are here. Who would visit me now?

Not that I don't have other friends- I do- just not other friends good enough to feel comfortable appearing without notice at my door.

Then something I'd forgotten popped into my mind. Winter break is sometime soon- now maybe? I'm not sure when NYU gets off exactly but when they're off, Sammy, my annoying but still sweet little brother, will stay with me for the month.

My smile was exultant.

"Oh my gosh!" I squeaked.

All my friends looked at me in confusion- as they should be since they can't hear my thoughts.

I sprang to my feet nimbly and yanked the door open- huge smile still in place and ready to spring at Sammy in a choking hug that would embarrass him.

Just as I was about to spring I deflated.

Shields.

Of course.

Well, not really. What is he doing here?

"Wow, good to see you too." He said with an amused smile upon seeing my excitement (before it had vanished).

"Hello Shields." I said- it was only polite to greet him.

And before I could ask the obvious question- what the hell are you doing here?- Ray came up behind me- apparently she'd been voted off the island to check things out.

She smiled widely as she saw my company and said, "Well, I'll be damned." I wish. "Darien Shields, how are you?"

Maybe she volunteered.

Darien smiled in return and before I could even blink they were chatting it up like old friends. I groaned in agony. As far as I remember Ray and Darien had had very little contact in high school. They'd both been on student council but they hadn't actually talked. They barely knew each other!

Apparently that was now being rectified because Ray was giggling (yes! Giggling! Not her usual uproarious, kind of nerdy chortle) at something I'd obviously missed and she reached out to swat at Darien's arm playfully- flirtatiously.

I looked incredulously from one to the other, seeing red.

"Married." I said through a cough next to Ray's ear. She swatted at me- not so playfully- and whispered through her teeth next to my ear- so only I could hear, "No rules on flirting." She winked at me- winked!- before continuing on with Darien whatever inane conversation I was tuning out.

And then suddenly three other faces popped out behind us, and the joyous greetings started all over again.

The red, angry haze I felt grew. This could not be happening!

Then I heard it.

The one thing that registered in my befuddled mind.

"Join us!"

It was Amy- yes, Amy!- who said it. She'd gone over to the dark side. No amount of light would save my friends.

"No!" I heard myself cry.

Everyone turned to me then- they'd all about forgotten my existence, let alone that we are in my home.

Four of the looks I got were reprimanding- like I was a child just caught with my hand in the cookie jar. One look- guess who?- was amused.

"Uh…" I mumbled, struggling with my taught manners. I couldn't just tell him he couldn't come without reason.

"Girls only." I finally came up with. Good excuse, I think, since it is true! But apparently my friends really have turned against me. If I was Harry Potter they have just become death eaters.

"We can make an exception for an old friend and, of course, Sere's newest author!" That was Lita. She truly was my Brute…

My mind went into hyperactive mode- which from my last experience does not help but still... second time's the charm maybe?

Apparently not.

"You know guys, I don't feel so good all of a sudden." I found myself saying.

Not that it was a complete lie- I'm definitely not feeling good about hanging with Darien.

No one was convinced.

"I think I caught something from Brad. He's been under the weather lately. Headaches and the such."

"He looked fine on Friday." Darien countered.

Ah! Annoying jerk, can't even leave me bow out!?

"Well," I gritted through my teeth. "He's a trooper. Doesn't show the pain. I sadly am no trooper." Shrug.

I gripped my stomach- maybe a little too theatrically?

"Stomach ache. Ouch." I said and forced my face into a pained expression.

"Thought it was the headaches you got from Brad?" Ray asked sarcastically.

"And stomach aches. Lots of problems." I said with a grim smile.

"Well, then we don't want you to starve Sere." Ray said with feigned concern. "Weren't you dying of hunger earlier?"

"Not anymore, can't hold down a thing." I ground out, glaring at Ray- trying to make her understand.

Please don't make me go with him! I'll humiliate myself!!- I screamed in my mind, wishing my friends were psychic. Thing is, I think Ray would have responded by saying something along the lines of "you already are" and she wouldn't have been wrong.

Ray didn't listen to either plea- the one spoken aloud or the one in my mind. She waved it off and before I could protest further we were out the door and heading toward the café. To my doom.

"Sorry, Sere." Amy apologized when we got in her car but I don't think it was sincere- not if her smothered laughter is anything to go by…