Author's Note:

No excuses. Just life. I won't do a long note this time, just hope you guys enjoy this one. I had tons of fun writing it- you'll know why soon enough. Sorry for my tardiness.

FP

You Again?

Chapter 24

It seemed that just as the holiday season began, it ended. Christmas day passed in a flash. Like usual, Sammy and I exchanged presents. He gave me the first book in a series I'd been meaning to read and I got him a couple CDs and a DVD of random stand up comedy on Comedy Central since he didn't have cable at the dorms. Then, in another flash New Years came. All the girls went over to Ray's to celebrate. Sammy went to a party with some friends.

Now, about New Years. I was in quite the predicament this year. Everyone was with someone. Amy had for the past few years been my rock, there for me in my perpetually single state. This year, however, she had Zach. It was all wonderful until the ball dropped at the stroke of midnight and everyone kissed their prince. Me excluded.

Now don't get me wrong here. My prince had an excuse- he was still in England. Can I note how cool that sounds by the way? My Prince is in England. Of course, that's where all Princes are aren't they? Anyway… He'd called every night since the Christmas Eve conversation, always very late at night when no one with him in London was awake and usually when Sammy had fallen asleep. I'd discovered on the third night of midnight calls that Sammy seemed bothered by this. He gave me an odd look that I couldn't interpret when I told him I was on the phone with Darien. So after that I smiled innocently and said that one of the girls was calling- I pretended it was Ray having pregnancy issues. He believed that.

So yeah, I understood that Darien was still spending time with the family but you can't really blame me for my disappointment that he wasn't there on New Year's Eve. I did after all know what it would have been like if he were there. Having that kind of knowledge made it all the more disappointing when Darien didn't appear magically at the stroke of midnight.

Apparently he had called though; when I came home and turned on my cell the little envelope blinked at me, signaling a voice mail. I dialed to hear it without much enthusiasm thinking that it was some solicitor. They'd been getting my cell number somehow lately.

It wasn't.

He didn't say anything earth shattering really- nothing extraordinarily romantic by any means. It didn't matter much; my heart still sped at the sound of his voice and his words. He'd called at midnight, my midnight, just like he'd done on Christmas Eve. Only this time I'd missed it. And that's when I realized I missed him.

I guess I should have realized that that is what that weird little twist was in my stomach when I thought about him. Well, really I guess I should have realized that the mere fact that he pervaded my thoughts so often indicated a feeling of longing.

After this little revelation I found myself anticipating his arrival- daydreaming about it even. I'll admit, it was ludicrous. Absolutely and completely ludicrous but I couldn't help it.

I knew he came back on the third. He'd told me this in one of our many recent conversations. I also knew that he would be jet lagged so the chances of me seeing him that day were slim…

Or… Well, or I always did have the option of surprising him by coming to the pick him up at the airport…

No, no. That is a completely idiotic idea. We haven't even gone on one date. We haven't even really been reunited for that long even. It had only been about a month and a half maybe since he'd entered my office for the first time in ten years, calling me "meatball head". Then why did it feel like so much longer?

Why did it feel like he'd never even left me in the first place? Not that he'd "left" me the first time. We'd gone off to college and obviously being enemies and all we didn't really keep in touch…

Except now that I think about it, we'd never even really been enemies. We argued, sure. That's all we ever did. At the time I'd always thought it was just because of the obvious reasons. You know- he's a boy, he's a really dumb boy, he's an immature boy, he's Darien. That was the rational. But was that even really how it was?

I don't know. I guess I can't really expect to be able to look back on my memories and see it all clearly. I can't even truthfully say something heartmeltingly romantic like we'd merely argued to hide our true feelings. I don't know the explanation for it now, just like then. I just don't think it was hatred anymore. It really couldn't be. Annoyance and extreme dislike, yes maybe. Those were possible. But hatred could never be converted into what I feel now.

Those were my thoughts that first day of the New Year when I got his message. I'd just thought about the past and fleetingly got the moronic notion of coming for him at the airport. The moronic thought had disappeared after a good night's sleep on the first…

Which then begs the question of why I now find myself taking a cab over to the airport on the third about an hour before his flight is scheduled to land…

Well, who knows? I certainly don't. I don't even understand my own actions apparently seeing as they don't match my conscious decisions.

I arrived about a half-hour too early at JFK. Everyone around me seemed to have an instant destination, all of them chattering away on their cells but all the while focusing on their path. I felt aimless and nervous. Aimless because I didn't even know where my aim was- if that makes sense. I didn't know what terminal the plane would land in or anything, I'd just kind of come- no plans. Then my brain finally started working and I headed over to the huge, obvious area labeled INFORMATION where a sweet though exhausted-looking woman gave me the desired instructions.

I was at the proper terminal and I had another twenty minutes to kill. I didn't really know what to do. I hadn't come prepared.

I fell into one of the many chairs around for people like myself as well as passengers waiting for their flights. All I could do was basically twist my hands on my lap. No, this isn't something I usually do. It's just I was so nervous.

What if he was annoyed that I'd come? He would be tired. Of course he would. It was a long flight. I'm not his girlfriend or anything in the first place. Why was I even here? I had pretty much convinced myself that I was a fool- a feat quite easy to do actually- by the time I realized that it was only 5 minutes until the plane's landing.

I didn't have too much time to make the decision. Stay or leave?

Stay and finally see Darien after what has seemed like forever. Stay and greet Darien with a welcoming kiss just like the one I see at this very moment- well, maybe not quite like the one in front of me... This one is a little too much PDA if you ask me… Oh, my god! Did he just…? No way. Oh MY GOD! HE DID. No, no. Nothing like that greeting… Okay, look away. Just look away. I didn't see anything, what are you talking about? I heard a snort-laugh beside me from a lady I hadn't noticed before. She tried to hide it beneath a cough. She met my eye and we both smirked conspiratorially. The couple didn't notice a thing. NOT that I'm looking. Nope, I'm looking away…

Anyway, as I was saying… Stay and risk looking like a clingy, crazy woman.

I should leave. I really should. But as soon as I see the people coming through the doors I'm immobile. All I'm able to do is stare.

Two portly guys with receding hairlines come out and block my view from the rest of the exiting passengers. I'm not sure if that is a sign or not. I mean, if I can't see them then they can't see me so this is the perfect moment. The two men just gave me a chance…

I could take it.

But of course I don't. I'm not that smart.

They're gone before I know it and my view, and that of the passengers is once more clear. I stand there looking through the quickly disappearing faces.

Then I see him.

His hair is in a disarray- not an organized disarray like usual either. He has a 5 o'clock shadow. His shirt has the first few buttons unbuttoned in a messy looking way, it was even wrinkled. His eyes seem a little bloodshot, nothing too dramatic there though- he didn't have dark circles under his eyes or anything. But overall, he looks like crap. I'm pretty sure that's what he supposedly looks like. But I can't see that at all.

He looks phenomenal. He is messy and tired looking but his natural, somewhat sardonic smile is intact. Bright and slightly crooked like usual. I hear his laugh even though I'm not too close to where he is. It is just like I remember it, not that it had been that long but still. It is deep and it seems to resonate within me.

It isn't quiet in the airport either. It is noisy. Lots and lots of noise. But I picked out that laugh immediately. It is so obvious to me. I can't help but smile, it is an instinctive reaction to that adorable laugh…

Then he saw me. His eyes were roaming aimlessly as he laughed along with someone next to him- I really didn't know who since my eyes were glued to his form- and then he was looking at me.

For an instant his expression changes from humor to confusion. His face slightly scrunched.

That isn't comforting. That isn't exactly the reaction I was hoping for, not that I had really thought about it.

Then my worries disappeared. It wasn't a look of annoyance at all because in the next second his smile was back and it was wide with full teeth exposure. Before I knew it, he was with me. And when I say with me, I mean squishing me.

It is I guess what everyone calls a bear hug. I've never been bear hugged so I'm not actually sure so I'll just tell you what exactly it feels like.

His arms are wrapped securely around my shoulders and he squeezed me to him in his seemingly excitement. A giggle escaped- yes, again with the giggles.

He doesn't lift me off my feet or anything so dramatic. He just hugs me- tight. And it feels amazing and I don't care if he squishes me. It would be worth it.

Before I am ready, he lets go and smiles at me.

"What're you doing here, Crazy Girl?"

I look at him oddly. Crazy Girl?

"I'm not crazy."

He gives me an incredulous smile.

"Have you ever heard yourself speak?" He asked then shook his head, "No, actually, have you ever heard your own thoughts?"

I briefly reflect on this and nod. Of course I have. These are them. And they're there all the time.

"If your thoughts are anything like your actions and words, yes, honey, you're crazy."

I open my mouth to protest, but he shakes his head again and raises a hand to stop me. "Maybe if you don't try to deny your true nature, you wouldn't be so," he makes an odd and frankly crazed gesture around his head.

I cross my arms, "Excuse me?"

He nods, "It is the truth. I will not retract my comments."

"I am not," I tried to imitate his wild gestures and he laughed at my attempts.

"You kind of are." He nodded.

I glared at him. "I benevolently come to greet you at the airport and you accuse me of being insane? You are such a crappy boyfriend."

He merely grinned at that. "I'm your boyfriend, huh?"

Rolling my eyes I walked away from him, "Shut up."

"I'm your boyfriend." I heard him repeat again in a sort of sing-song, humored voice.

"So mature." I said rolling my eyes- not that he could see since I'd walked ahead of him.

Then I felt a weight on my shoulders and something on the side of my head… He kissed my forehead softly as he pulled me closer to his side.

"I am totally your boyfriend."

I turned my face to him as we continued walking. His eyes were soft, amused, and as always- somehow deep and mysterious to me in all their blue depths.

I shrugged with a smile. "I suppose you are."

As we continued to walk off, I heard a voice shouting "Darien!" but it didn't really register in my elated state. He's my boyfriend! I Serena Tsukino have a boyfriend! Darien! Darien Shields is Serena Tsukino's boyfriend! Then a thought occurred to me… a boyfriend who's never taken me out for a date… Before this thought could really disturb me, I heard the voice again and this time Darien did too because he turned us around.

Walking up toward us was a blond; I'd guess six foot something- just about an inch taller than Darien- guy. His hair was cut in a crew cut, which usually I'd find extremely unattractive because I like the longer, Darien-esque styled hair, but it fit him well. He was drop dead gorgeous in fact. His bright peridot green eyes only made him that much more appealing.

NOT that I was drooling at the sight of him. I'm doing just fine with the hunk still holding me close to his side. Yup, he hadn't let me go!

The man rolled his eyes. "Thanks, man. I'm glad to know that I'm so important to you." Then his eyes seemed to register me for the first time and they brightened a bit. I immediately recognize that this guy has a sense of humor and definitely a cheerful countenance. His eyes roam over me for the slightest second and a smile spreads across his face. "Well, I guess I can't blame you. If I had a choice between you and her, sorry dude you'd lose."

He laughed at his own joke and I couldn't help but give in the temptation to laugh along with him. His cheerfulness is contagious. Darien didn't seem to agree. I looked up in time to see the last of his glare at his friend before his smile covered it quickly.

"Yeah, taken. Go find your own."

The blond guy, who by now I knew must be the all-grown-up Andrew, gave a feigned frown. "Man, and I thought we were friends. You're supposed to make things easier on me." Then he muttered just loud enough for us to hear, "Making me go look for my own girl, well I never."

I laughed along with Darien at his antics then finally stepped out of Darien's side to properly introduce myself to Andrew. I proffered my hand and he took it immediately for a small shake. "Well, now that you boys are done with one of those male 'who's is bigger' games… I'm Serena Tsukino. I'm not sure if you remember me but we all went to Juban High together. Andrew Masen, right?"

Andrew rolled his eyes and frowned in mock horror. "Like I could ever forget a face like that. Let alone the girl whom without I'd never have passed those horrible Shakespeare exams." He smiled and I did too.

"Wow. What a great memory. I don't even remember that!"

His smile turned conspiratorial and he pulled me in so my face was within a centimeter of his and his lips drew closer to my ears. He mock whispered- Darien could still hear- "Don't tell anyone but Dare here reminded me." When he stood erect again he still didn't let my hand go. In a normal voice he continued, "I did however remember correctly how gorgeous you are without help from Darien over here."

"I see." I said playing right along. Glaring at Darien, hand still captive in Andrew's, I said. "So, you've been downplaying my beauty to your friends? How generous."

Darien raised his hands in protest, "I'd never do such a thing. I might not have captured it quite right with the analogy to a goddess but what other earthly way is there to describe you?"

Man, this guy was good.

Andrew, however, was definitely a match. Pulling me to his side so I was tucked under his arm he turned to face me. "At first I did adore twinkling stars, but now I worship a celestial sun!" He played off the words with all the flair of a true theater performer. And then I remembered he used to be. I couldn't help but smile again.

Darien, never to be outdone, took my hand and I followed without protest as he extracted me from Andrew. I mean, Andrew's cool and all but… you know.

Looking into my eyes with his deep midnight cerulean ones he declared with slightly less drama but with infinite sweetness, "I never did adore a single twinkling star. This celestial sun has had me captive since the start."

I couldn't look away from his gaze, I wanted to reach up and kiss him but the spell was broken by Andrew's cough and I blushed for my behavior.

"I'd like to point out that that isn't even a real Shakespeare speech. You just pulled that out of your ass."

Darien shrugged and started walking us toward the baggage claim, "As long as it's a nice ass."

Andrew laughed and I couldn't help but look back slightly to examine that particular part of his anatomy.

"Amen, brother."

Oh my god, I said that out loud! They both burst out laughing and I practically fell apart from my own mirth but Darien held me tightly and giving one last chuckle gave a quick peck to my flaming cheek. He's right I am crazy...