Sessediz

Rated M: Language and love scenes

D/S

Thank you for the reviews. If you've fav'd/follow'd this story but haven't posted a review yet, let me know what you think! Any amount of input you can provide me is welcomed and well-received.

This chapter will focus on their past together so let me know if there are any parts that seem to transition oddly. I tried my best :)

Lastly, both characters are suffering here (throughout this story). Serena has baggage and Darien has been heartbroken so it will take some time for them to 'get there.' Don't have a final chapter count but perhaps around five? We'll see!

Darien Shields:

It had been three weeks since I told Serena it was over. Whatever 'it' was I didn't know, but the decision did seem to affect our business together, despite the reasoning I had given her.

We had met two times to go over the plan for her opening schedule and things were looking much better for her. Seeing her sit across from me at my company's conference table and not being able to do anything was hurting me in a way I didn't understand.

The last time she met with me I could have sworn she was putting on subtle moves; so subtle that I was becoming convinced that I imagined them and perhaps I did. I had tried my hardest to push her out of my mind but it had yet to work.

"Amara, please let Mel and Diana know that I would like to see them a little bit early as our meetings will be beginning in twenty minutes. We have back-to-back consultations today and I don't want our clients behind schedule." It was Friday and I was anxious to get a drink. The sooner these meetings could all end the sooner I could hit the bar.

There were seven companies sending in representatives today and each would be a follow-up or progress check. The third one in line would be Moon Rise and I was in a mix of emotions; I wanted to see Serena but I also knew it was best to see her as little as possible.

Of course, there was no way I was passing up on handling her restaurant's opening. It was an A-list event which was opening on 96th street and it would certainly seem odd if I let such a good deal go so easily.

"Darien, the representative from Metalia Thorp has arrived," Amara informed me. I was glad that we had finally gotten the first-name business settled. I adjusted my tie, grabbed my mug of coffee and headed to the conference room where two of my employees were sitting.

We went over a simple game plan and I saw that Amara had provided us each with legal pads and folders covering the previous meetings with the companies. Each meeting was about thirty minutes long with a fifteen minute break for my people to finalize their notes. I had gotten so caught up in an issue from the previous client that I was almost shocked when Amara announced that the representative from Moon Rise had arrived.

I'm sure Mel and Diana must have thought it strange for me to be checking my appearance but I waved it off. The door opened and I stood up instantly to greet—

"Lita?"

"Good to see you too, Darien," she smiled. Where's Serena?

"Is something wrong with Serena?"

Lita walked to her seat and pulled out a folder, "She's finally letting me help with the restaurant. We just hired a new sous chef so I have more flexibility in my schedule." That still didn't quite answer my question. She's avoiding me now.

"Well, then, let's get started." Lita was well-informed on the progress which made the meeting go more smoothly. We usually try to keep the same representative with a company for continuity but seeing as this was concerning Serena I was quick to let it pass.

After we wrapped everything up I told Mel and Diana to finalize the notes so that I could see Lita out.

"Is everything honestly okay with Serena? She's been to the last couple meetings."

"Darien, it's alright. I know that the two of your broke up," she looked sympathetic.

"It's not like we were ever really together, you know that."

Lita nodded, "She's been taking this one harder though. I've never seen her act this way."

"What do you mean?"

"She's been losing focus, her diet has changed and to my knowledge she hasn't found another guy yet."

"Does she normally jump from guy to guy that fast?"

"Not too fast, depending on your perspective, but this is just different." Have I made a mistake? Did Lita make a mistake? "Could you call her?"

I furrowed my brow. It's not like I didn't want back in her life, I did, but if I was going to be a part of her life I wanted a more permanent position. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."

"I know you care about her," Lita stated. "And I'm not trying to make it seem like you have a chance to get her back but she needs someone right now and I've tried everything. Please?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, "I don't know what I could possibly do but I guess I can try."

Lita informed me that Serena had been working at the restaurant all day so she would be off for the evening. After we finished our meetings I stopped by my apartment to change into faded jeans, a yellow button-up with dark blue trim and a black leather jacket. The trains were backed up so I hailed a cab for Brooklyn.

I was nervous. Seeing Serena a couple of times in my work setting versus showing up at her apartment where I knew Lita would not be… it was making me incredibly uneasy. I guess it was obvious because the cab driver started asking me if I was alright. When I told him that I was fine he smiled in the rearview mirror and muttered 'women, huh?' and went back to his driving.

When I reached her door I stood there for about fifteen minutes contemplating heading back to the city. I promised Lita I would try talking to her.

I sighed and relented, knocking on the door. I heard some shuffling from inside before the door swung open.

"Hi," I said.

"Uh, hello," she replied. Serena was wearing shorts-style pink overalls with a ruffled white shirt underneath.

After a minute of silence, "Can I come in?" I asked. She looked at me peculiarly and motioned for me to join her inside. Her apartment looked different. The colorful displays of international collections were no longer on the walls and the floors were covered in mostly medium-sized cardboard boxes. "Moving?" I asked shakily. It's not like she could move out of the state again; she's opening a restaurant in three weeks!

"Yeah, Lita and I found a place close to the new restaurant." Serena hadn't left from the closed door as I ventured through their living room.

"Understandable… well, with the commute and everything," she nodded in the smallest motions. "Where to?"

Her hair was gathered up in one of those claw things and a few sections of it had started to fall out. Part of me wanted to help her fix it but mostly I found myself enjoying the sight.

"We actually got pretty lucky. It's only two blocks from the restaurant."

"Oh, why would you want to live so close to your work?"

"It's important to me, I guess."

I shouldn't have seemed mad but all that would be between us now was the width of Central Park meaning that we would likely be running into each other from time to time. I looked to her television to see it paused on a movie frame.

"Juno?" I asked.

"I needed a break from packing. It's been a busy time with the—."

"Restaurant, I know."

Serena Tsukino:

Neither of us talked. I didn't even know why he decided to show up here if he had nothing to say to me. Though just having him there was comforting on some level.

It reminded me of the time my parents got into a big fight and I ran to the community park to get away from it all. I had found a bench a bit of the ways off from where most people were that afternoon and cried to my hearts' content.

I was nearing the end of my personal pity party when a shadow fell over me, "Serena?" I looked up to see Darien Shields dressed in a school tee and baseball cap with a mitt on his right hand. "What's wrong?"

He sat down next to me. "Oh, nothing," I wiped away the teary runs on my cheeks.

"Don't lie to me. What happened?"

I hesitated to answer him but then found myself revealing everything about my parents, the pressures of school and life in general. In hindsight it felt very crybaby of me but at the time I needed to get it off my chest. Part of me worried about the jokes he could create out of the things I was telling him but he seemed so genuinely interested in hearing what I had to say that I didn't hold back.

"Hey, hey," he calmed me, pulling me into an embrace. "It's okay, Sere. We all have bad days."

"But what about my parents?" I tried to pull back but he held onto me tighter.

"Even parents have bad days."

He was right and I knew he was right. Somehow, having him say it to me made everything clear again. I looked up and saw him smiling sweetly. When I paid closer attention to his attire I asked him about it.

"Oh, this? I was in the middle of baseball tryouts when I saw you over here."

My eyes widened, "Darien!" I hit his arm, "You shouldn't have come over here. You missed them." I pointed to the group of guys packing up their belongings.

He chuckled, "Don't worry. I wasn't very good anyways."

And he wasn't. I saw him play during a family sporting day that the school held as a fundraiser. Darien was an excellent basketball player but it didn't transfer well to baseball at all.

"Do you want me to go?" Darien asked, pulling me from my memories.

"Uh, do you want to go?" I asked back. You were the one to leave this time. He didn't respond. Instead, he pulled out his phone and began ordering Chinese takeout. When he put his phone back in his pocket I approached him. "So you're staying then?"

"I suppose so."

Darien Shields:

I remembered that look anywhere.

We were nearing the end of the final exam time for math class junior year when I looked over at Serena concentrating on the bonus question. She looked so cute chewing on the end of her pencil and then nervously wiping it on her shirt when she needed the eraser to fix something.

"Mr. Shields," our teacher bellowed. "I trust you have a good reason for looking at Miss Tsukino's paper?" The man towered over my desk and I gulped.

"I, uh, just noticed that her calculator was the newest release. It's one I've had my eye on for a while now."

Our teacher didn't seem to believe me, "You must have had your eye on it for the entire school year since Serena hasn't approved any new calculators with me." Now he was looking to Serena to read if this calculator was, in fact, new. Shit. Let's just get her in trouble, Darien. "Serena, may I see your calculator?"

There was only five minutes left in the exam period and I saw fear showcase on her face as he picked up her calculator. He walked over to his desk to double check the product number against his records and I felt her eyes burning holes in me.

I was already finished with my exam and I hoped that she would have enough time to do the same.

"Seems Mr. Shields was incorrect, Serena. Sorry for taking time away from your exam. You may have two additional minutes if you need them," he said before glaring at me.

Serena didn't need the extra time because she just needed to double-check her work on the last question. The clock struck 3:30 p.m. and we all turned in our exams. Outside of the school, I tried to apologize to her but she wouldn't have any of it.

"You really fucked up this time," I muttered to myself as the guys approached me.

It would be three more days before I would ask Serena out and kiss her on the park bench I once consoled her on.

Serena Tsukino:

The food should have helped with our lack of conversation but it only seemed to draw it out more.

"S'good?" he asked. I nodded but continued to eat my shrimp lo mein. "If you want, we could turn your movie back on."

God bless you, Darien. I grabbed the remote quickly and turned Juno back on to the part where she is first telling her parents that she's pregnant.

It reminded me of the day that Darien asked me out for ice cream; milkshakes, really. I was always craving one, especially strawberry, so it was nothing out of the norm for him.

I had wanted to confess to him what was going on; I needed to tell someone. But I didn't want to admit what happened. It all went by so fast that I didn't even know how I got into the situation in the first place.

"Did you want another flavor?" Darien smiled, offering to buy me a second milkshake. Why is he being so nice to me? I secretly wanted it to be that he was interested in me, but I knew I could never get that lucky.

"No, this one's fine," I took a big slurp, "Thank you for buying it for me."

Darien nodded and poured a heaping amount of ketchup next to his fries. "So, how's Damon?"

I almost cringed at the name but I didn't want to be obvious about anything. "Fine, I guess."

"You guys together now?"

I rubbed my tongue on the roof of my mouth to get rid of the brain freeze that was forming. Not if my prayers go through. "Not really."

"Cool," he said before grabbing a handful of fries all at once.

I needed to go to the drug store before going home but I couldn't very well let Darien see what I was buying. I would never hear the end of it. Instead, I suggested a walk through the park to 'work off my milkshake.'

Pretty soon I might have weight I won't be able to work off.

We reached a bench as the sun was just starting to set and continued talking about our senior year coming up and how excited we were to graduate. Darien had still been planning on going to medical school to become a doctor and I had no idea what I was going to do with my life; I just hoped that I still had options available to me.

"Serena, do you like me?" he asked suddenly. Where is this coming from?

"Uh, why do you ask?" My heart was beating faster and I felt overheated despite the evening air.

"Because I want to kiss you." My eyes widened and I subconsciously licked my lips in anticipation. Am I dreaming? "But I want to know if you'll be okay with it."

Okay? Of course I'm okay with it! I started worrying about my breath but began nodding anyways. Darien closed his eyes and slowly leaned in. I waited there, eyes closed, for our lips to connect. When they did it felt almost electric.

Our lips moved smoothly against each other's and I didn't mind when his tongue grazed my bottom lip. I opened my mouth slightly and he seemed taken off-guard for a moment. He recovered by pulling me closer to him and deepening the kiss.

When he finally pulled away, he smiled and said, "Strawberries."

We made plans for that weekend and I parted ways with him on that bench, making a B-line for the drug store. I have to know if Damon got me pregnant. Things were starting to change between Darien and I and I couldn't stand the idea that a mistake with that jerk on prom night could ruin the thing I had been hoping for since my ninth grade social.

I cried that night. Tears were flowing down my cheeks as I saw the single line mark on three separate tests. "I'm not pregnant…" I whispered to myself as I pulled out my phone to text Darien, confirming our plans for Saturday.

Darien Shields:

It was almost her birthday that summer and I was nervous about what to get her. Serena and I had spent the last month and a half together and I wanted to be sure she knew how I felt. I thought about getting her Chris Brown tickets but after the media released information about what he did to Rihanna Serena became completely disinterested in his music. I remember thinking highly of her for standing her ground on the issue.

We were driving around one day in my dark green Eclipse Spyder with the top down. Serena was changing the radio station when she started belting out the lyrics, "Shut up and put your money where your mouth is! That's what you get for waking up in Vegas!"

"You like this song?" I asked.

Serena nodded, "Katy Perry's music is so fresh. She'll definitely be sticking around." She looked so adorable in her star-struck ways. "I think I might go to Vegas one day."

"Oh? And do what there?" Serena didn't seem like the type to gamble away her hard-earned money.

"Be a performer, of course. It's in my stars to be very successful," she mused.

"But of course," my eyes were still on the road but I could see her out of the corner of my eye. I guess I could get tickets to the Hello Katy tour.

"Oo! Oo! Oo!" she shouted, turning the radio up louder. It's that Blink-183 song again."

Serena grinned as we waited for the lyrics to start. She was mildly head-banging as she raised her hands above her, shouting the lyrics along with me. I was always more into rock and punk music in high school so us finding songs we could agree on made them special… and that had been the first one we agreed on that summer.

Serena Tsukino:

The movie got to the part where Juno was telling Bleeker off since he was taking another girl to the prom while she would be sitting at home pregnant. It made me cringe at the thought of prom but then another memory came to mind.

The day I broke everything off with Darien.

For his eighteenth birthday I had gotten him a small gift card to Hot Topic and the new Sugar Ray and Sick Puppies albums. I felt bad for not being able to get him more since he had given me such an expensive gift.

"I love these, Sere," he leaned in to kiss me, his long black bangs tickling my nose. "And I get to go to the concert with you, remember?"

I knew that he wasn't counting down the days like I was but if he could handle taking me to a girly concert then perhaps this summer romance would really last into the schoolyear. That following weekend was his birthday party with all of our friends from school.

Darien's parents had a lovely home with a lavish backyard complete with in-ground pool, pristine landscaping and a rose garden. Most kids my age wouldn't have cared for those details but I knew that Darien was the one to thank for the rose garden. It was his hidden passion and only hidden to keep his manly façade as one of the school's top athletes. I had encouraged him to just forget about social norms but he was still hesitant.

The party was going well and it was the first time that I saw both of his parents in the same area. Their schedules were packed full and they didn't even have much time for Darien. In fact, I didn't recall seeing either of them at his games.

"Lovely party, Mrs. Shields," I complimented, grabbing the 2-liter of Mug's Root Beer.

"It is, isn't it?"

Mrs. Shields was a very stoic woman; more so than her husband. Her hair was black like Darien's and was usually parted straight down the middle. It wasn't the best look for her but I wasn't about to tell her that.

"Could we have a chat?" she motioned for the inside of their home. I nodded and followed her to the kitchen where she had Darien's cake waiting. She started pulling out disposable plates with a childish sports motif on them. "So you and my son have been spending quite the summer together."

"Uh, I suppose we have." Is she mad about our trips and expenses? I had told Darien that I was fine with walks, movie nights at home and other simple things but he loved taking me to the zoo, local amusement park and other places I couldn't afford to go to; at least, not all of them all the time.

"What are you plans for after graduation?"

"I'm still looking into my options," I knew it wasn't the best answer but it was the truth. College applications would be due in four months and I couldn't begin to think where I would apply. "But I do have a lot of ideas. I just need to sort through everything and make a decision."

"I understand that you're not an A student like my son." I stood still, not knowing how to respond. "I've spoken with Darien and he tells me that your parents own that little bakery on Main Street."

"Uh, yes, they've had it since the year I was born."

"How nice."

I began to feel threatened by her comments and looked out the window to where Darien and his friends were playing a quick game by the tall hoop. I didn't know how to make an excuse without causing his mother to be angry with me or, rather, angrier.

"I can help take the cake out, if you'd like."

Mrs. Shields closed the distance between us, making the lump in my throat grow larger. Very evenly she stated, "I want low-class sluts like you to stop distracting my son. You spread your legs and think you'll get whatever you want, even a smart, rich man like my son. Darien is going to be a successful doctor and what do you plan to be? Hmm?"

My throat was dry and I felt like I might collapse. Is this really happening? Do people really say things like that to other people?

Darien came rushing into the house, sweat on his brow, "Hey, Mom! When's the cake? We're starved." He leaned in and gave me a warm hug.

"Coming right up, honey," she smiled as if nothing had transpired between us. Mrs. Shields picked up the cake and started for the door. I grabbed the plates and utensils as Darien leaned in.

"Are you okay?" he asked, worried.

I nodded, "We can talk later."

That later would result in our first and only fight; a fight that pushed me over the cliff and on the road to Los Angeles.

Darien Shields:

The movie was nearing its end and Serena had yet to really say anything to me. I hadn't tried too hard myself because honestly my mind was focused on high school.

It was a week before our senior year started and a week after my birthday party. Serena had yet to tell me what had gotten her upset that night and it seemed to be itching at her.

"Sere, please talk to me." We were walking through the park and I tried to hold her hand, but she pulled away.

"I can't, Darien."

"Can't what?" she didn't respond. "Sere, com'on."

"Darien, it's over."

I stopped in my tracks, "What?"

She wouldn't look at me and I began to feel tears welling up in my eyes. I thought things were going well? I can't lose, Serena. I can't.

"I don't want to be a burden to you. Your mother talked with me."

My mother? "My mother?" she nodded, "What did she say?"

Serena didn't want to tell me but I insisted, "She told me I'd never be successful. My parents have their own business and not only does she not think too well on them she doesn't think I can even amount to that."

I was taken aback, "And? Who cares?"

"Who… cares?"

"Yeah, who cares if you'll be successful in business? You think that's why I like you?" I honestly couldn't see why something like that would matter, especially my mother's opinion.

She didn't say anything for the longest time and it made me scared. I wanted to comfort her but she seemed so unapproachable that I felt it best to wait it out.

"I'm sorry, Darien," she whispered as she handed me a simple white envelope. I looked down at it and wondered what was inside.

"But—."

"I have to go now. I wish you well."

Serena started walking away from me and I pulled out my pocket knife to slice the end of the envelope she had given me. I put the knife back before tilting the envelope to the side. In my hand fell two concert tickets for next month.

"Wait!" I called after her, putting my long legs to use. "Serena, you can't go!"

She turned around to face me. My heart was beating out of my chest. Please don't leave me, please don't leave me.

"What do you want, Darien?"

"I—I want you to stay. Com'on, why are you leaving me?"

"I just have things to do and you should get on with your life. I really do wish you well." I could see her breaking inside, though she tried hard to hide it.

"Serena, please. I don't care what it is you decide to do in life. I may be a doctor but that doesn't mean you have to have some high-class job like a lawyer or anything." Her expression change and I knew I had said the wrong thing. "I'm so—."

"No, don't be sorry, Darien. I get it. I'm not part of your 'high-class' world. Your mother made that clear and your condoning of her words shows how you feel too." I didn't condone her. She turned to continue walking.

"Sere, wait."

"No!" she turned one last time to face me. "You know what, Darien? I wish for the best for you because I know you'll be a screw up too. You'll go to school for several years, spending your parents' money on an Ivy League education but it won't do any good. You'll be the one to kill someone's mother, grandfather or child." The wind seemed to still around us. I had never heard her say such things to me nor anyone, "And you, Darien, will disappoint your parents, colleagues and patients, the ones that barely make it, that is."

I didn't stop her that time. I waited till she was far away before I crumpled to the ground like the rodent she had made me about to be.

It was really late by time I got home and I went straight to my room, not eating dinner and certainly not talking to my mother. She's rarely home anyways so why give her details about my life?

Though Serena hurt me more than anyone had ever done before, I hoped that a week apart would let the dust settle. I was so excited to see her at school but couldn't find her in the commons area that morning.

When I got to homeroom for our schedules she still wasn't there.

I searched the school for three days, with no sign of her. Her friends hadn't seen her and none of her teachers had had her yet.

I remember walking up to the Tsukino home that Wednesday evening after practice. Her parents were not in the best of moods but Mrs. Tsukino invited me in to sit on their couch after telling Sam to go upstairs. She gave me a loaf of sourdough bread to take home and they both sat there in silence.

"Is something wrong with Serena? She hasn't been to school this week."

Her dad looked puzzled, "I thought she ran off with you."

My eyes widened, "What?"

Mrs. Tsukino cleared her throat, "Kenneth, I don't believe Darien is responsible for this."

"The hell he isn't!" her father shouted, pointing a finger at me, "I want my baby girl back, boy."

"I—I honestly don't know... You said she left?"

Her mother nodded, "Yes. Took the Carisma too."

I stood up, "That old thing? It wouldn't last a week out there—," I stopped, realizing my unintentional insult. "Please, you have to know where she is. Where could she have gone?"

"We don't know, Darien. She makes so many plans that I can't think where she might have actually run off to."

I left their house that night feeling ashamed. Had I thought Serena's statement of 'leaving' meant leaving the town or even the state I would have kept running after her.

Hell, I did run after her. I used my parent's resources and tried putting notices out for her, especially Las Vegas since it was one of the most recent ideas she had had. Serena was seventeen and therefore a minor. It wasn't hard to convince people to put up signs but by the end of senior year, I had given up hope of finding her again.

Her parents told me at graduation that she had contacted them and was doing well. I thought I could live with that information but that summer wasn't the same. She wasn't there and she wasn't coming back.

As soon as I thought I was over her I saw her walking down the street in Boulder. I thought my eyes were seeing things but it was her; slightly taller, longer hair and clothes that showed off the gorgeous body I always knew she had.

I looked over at her now, as the film began to roll credits. Serena was perfection every step of the way.