Author's Note:

I'm sooo sorry I took so long to update this time. I have my many excuses. Work, school starting, and worst of all- writer's block. I couldn't think of events for a new chapter for a while. I just couldn't and now I think I know why. Because I wasn't thinking about the right things happening. I dunno how to explain it but my mind was just not processing what was right in my face... I hope you like this next chapter :) Your feedback is always much appreciated. You have no idea how happy your comments make me. You guys make me like this story more and make me believe in it. Thank you all! Sorry that this chapter is a little short but I felt like this is all it needed to be. Hopefully you agree. Or maybe you'll be left wanting more? ;)

FuturePrincess

You Again?

Chapter 15

"Wow, I know I told you not to dress up but … you know, you could have dressed." Was Darien's lovely greeting when he came to my door at precisely 6:30 AM.

I glared but there really wasn't any true malice behind it anymore. No hostility like there would have been yesterday.

Darien's words are, of course, warranted.

I'm still in my pajamas- of which I haven't changed out of in the past forty-eight hours. I'm not saying it's awesome to wear the same clothes for such a long period- it is, in fact, uncomfortable- but I didn't follow Darien's instructions when I read the note. I fell back asleep and the door ringing woke me from my blissful dreamland.

"You are the Devil." I muttered and walked back into my apartment.

I heard the door shut, but didn't actually see him do it since my back was turned.

"Well, aren't you Miss Morning Sunshine?" Darein said.

"Well, aren't you Miss Overly Cheerful." I didn't say it as a question. I heard a laugh behind me.

"Mr.," He corrected.

"Nope, I'm sticking with my former comment." I walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a box of cereal- unopened since I never have time for breakfast. I usually either have to rush to work or I wake up at lunchtime.

"I'm pretty sure out of the two of us, I have more authority on this one. Ethos and such."

Great. Darien is a morning person. He's actually coherent at this hour. Me, I don't even know how he understood half of what I said since it was all in a jumbled mumble. I haven't had caffeine either so clearly I am in no position to be exchanging witty banter with Darien Shields. Especially since witty banter is his specialty.

A depressed, startled cry escaped me as I looked in the cupboard.

"What?" Darien asked but he didn't sound too interested. He sounded distracted.

When I turned around I realized why, he has today's paper. He's reading the headlines.

"No coffee." I couldn't help but let out a small, pathetic whimper. No coffee. This is disastrous.

Darien just shrugged. I guess I should understand that compared to world terror, multiple homicides, and the such this is not a dire situation but I except more sympathy than a shrug! And it is early and I can't be expected to act politically correct or whatever it is in the morning.

I walked over to the door, not caring if he came or stayed. I need to get my coffee.

"Where are you going?" He asked, still not really paying much attention.

"Coffee."

"Dressed like that?"

"It's New York. I'll fit right in."

He smiled a little at that then finally looked up at me and pointed. I followed the direction of his point and saw it.

My savior.

"God, I love you." I whispered as I looked at the coffee. It was aimed at the room in general. The coffee. Darien. I couldn't care less. Coffee!

Darien laughed, "That must be one strong addiction."

"Not an addiction, a habit. A wonderful one. That keeps me awake." I said and went over to the kitchen counter with my coffee. I spilled half of it in a mug and filled the rest of the paper cup with milk and two packets of sugar.

I relaxed instantly as the familiar liquid went down its usual path. I could almost feel my body perking right up.

When I looked back at Darien he had an incredulous expression.

"That is not coffee." He said.

"What does that mean?" I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing he would make some snarky comment next.

"That is milk and sugar with barely any coffee. Might as well drink chocolate milk or something."

I rolled my eyes, "It makes it taste better and chocolate milk doesn't have caffeine."

"That doesn't either." He said pointing at my cup as though it were a foreign object.

"Whatever, go back to your paper Miss." I made a shooing hand gesture.

I caught the roll of his eyes before his head disappeared behind the paper.

"And thanks." I finally managed. This will take some getting used to, having to be grateful instead of hateful toward Darien Shields.

"Two for two. I'm good."

"Chivalry two, gratitude two. I'm better than Ella." It just came out- and in the British accent. I'm sure you are confused now. So is Darien, he looked at me like I was crazy and disappeared once more behind the paper.

"Ella Enchanted." I informed him but he didn't answer.

So I went about my own activities. I ate breakfast and Darien continued reading the paper. Once I finished showering I felt a hundred times better.

Illness gone.

Coffee here.

Darien here.

Well, two out of three I suppose is pretty good. Although I'm not so sure Darien's presence is still a negative. I'm starting to enjoy his company. Silent at times, annoying at others, but almost always entertaining.

"So, how are you feeling this morning?" He asked when I came out after dressing in my room.

I shrugged, "Fine. You were right. 24 hour illness."

"So what are you going to do today?"

I shrugged again, "Work? In about thirty minutes I believe." I looked at the time. Yup. My bus would be at its stop in half an hour.

"Work?" He looked incredulous, like I'd just said something nonsensical.

"Yes, work. It is something normal people do. Go to work to get money to live, etc. Not all of us have a trust fund along with a huge inheritance to our names."

It just came out. And I knew it was unfair before his eyeroll, before his grim smile, before his response.

"I do, in fact, work. And as for the inheritance, well, call me a sentimental fool but I'd much rather have my parents alive."

"I'm sorry." I couldn't even look him in the eye. I couldn't believe I'd just said something like that. I didn't mean it like that at all but his interpretation is understandable. Never mention deceased parents. That is an unspoken rule I understand only too well because no matter how long it has been, it still stings to think about it.

I felt his sigh before I heard it. His breath lingered where he released it, inches from my face.

He'd moved to stand in front of me.

He pushed my chin up with his hand before sighing once more, once more filling the air with some sort of spicy mint scent, and looking at me seriously, "It'll take a while I guess."

At my lost expression he elaborated, "This being nice to each other." The crooked smile appeared again then, "It shouldn't be this hard, should it? I mean, we're two mostly polite and nice people." At my incredulous expression his smile grew, lips spreading higher on the left side of his face than the right, "I am, despite what you may think. Although I do admit that your opinion is valid based on my track record with you. But, in my defense, you were always so much fun to tease. No one had the reactions you did. From the very first insult you were sharp with those little comebacks of yours." A shrug, "Entertainment for a bored teen."

And then I realized something.

Darien's hand was still on my chin. His thumb had moved slightly since he'd first lifted my face and I could almost feel the trail where he'd touched my face, as though it were a tangible path. Every tiny part of my cheek and chin that he'd touched felt slightly warmer. Almost ticklish.

Almost.

But there is nothing funny about this feeling.

I know this feeling.

This is the same feeling I got the first time Darien Shields smiled at me more than a decade ago.

The first time we were forced to shake hands in a weird icebreaker game in English class.

The feeling that disappeared almost instantly the very day after that meeting when Darien Shields turned into jerk extraordinare.

And now it is back.

Darien is being sweet… or something. I don't even have a name for what he's being, but the antagonism I've felt for him since that second day is gone and suddenly something else is replacing it.

This isn't good.

I have to get away because Darien Shields is looking at me.

Staring at me.

Staring through me…

I forced my protesting feet back, putting space between us, making him drop his hand.

His midnight eyes seemed so unfathomable that I had to look away.

Then I heard his words.

His breath whispered against my already-heated cheeks.

"Let's play hooky today."