Grammarly beta'd

The Library

Darien sat in the back corner of the school library and worked on his history paper. The whole class was supposed to be using this time to write. He heard Serena laughing and shook his head. It didn't appear everyone had listened to their teacher. He turned back to his laptop and continued writing and checking the sources he was using.

"That is just so funny! I can't believe you actually got her to do that." he overheard Serena saying. He didn't hear the response.

He pulled up a new tab on his search engine and began searching for relevant information on the war he was studying when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He ignored it and kept typing. He then heard a noise to his left, and he turned his head to see Serena leaning against the end of the bookcase and slowly sliding down to sit on the floor. Darien watched as she rested her head on her knees, and he heard her sigh.

In a quiet voice, he asked, "You aren't over by all of your admires? What happened? Did you get bored of them fawning all over you?"

She lifted her head when he started speaking to her, and by the end, she had placed her head back on her knees. She replied with sarcasm, "Yes, I obviously would rather hang out with the one guy who hates me."

He rolled his eyes and went back to typing and said, "What's his name? He sounds like an idiot."

She raised her head to look at him and said, "His name is Darien, and he laughs at my grades and my… life. It's my whole life that you object to, right?"

"You think I hate you? That's ridiculous," he replied, far from it.

"Let me guess. What you want to add to that is that 'To hate you I would have to care at all'?" Serena countered.

He slid his chair back and turned to face her, and asked, "Where are you getting your faulty information from, and why are you hiding back here by someone that you believe hates you?"

She ignored the first question. She didn't have anything other than a feeling to back it up. As for the second, she said, "I am just exhausted, and I wanted a break. It isn't easy being happy all of the time."

"I thought that was a natural state for you," he said, puzzled about what she had expressed.

She rolled her eyes and said, "I am not sure why I am even telling you this… Maybe it's because you already judge me. I get tired of trying to be bubbly Serena all of the time. No one is naturally like that, but that's what they like to see. That's what made me popular, so that's what I constantly have to try to show them."

"That's dumb," he stated.

She shrugged and said, "Like me?"

"I don't think you're dumb, I don't dislike you, and I don't hate you. You're… Well, everyone likes you. What makes you think I'm the exception?" Darien asked.

She sighed and said, "Never mind, I don't really want to argue about this. Can I just hide out here for a while, please? I promise I will leave you alone and be quiet."

He said, "Go ahead," and he went back to typing. He did, however, keep darting looks at Serena while she sat on the floor with her head resting on her knees.

Through the bookshelves, he heard shuffling and some girl comment, "She thinks everyone just adores her, well I am getting sick of her, and I'm sure that I'm not the only one. Serena's so fake."

His head whipped over to look at her, and he noticed she hadn't moved or shown any physical reaction to what he just heard. He heard them move further away, and he whispered, "Please tell me you didn't hear that."

She looked at him and said, "Of course I heard what Cleo said about me. That's hardly new, and it was mild; she has said far worse about me."

"She's not your friend?" he asked.

Serena chuckled, "Oh, she only pretends to be my friend. I haven't ever been fooled, though. I am careful about what I say around her, and I only say things to her that I want to be repeated. The best way to get something out and around the school is to tell her a secret. I've used that a bunch."

He shook his head, "You shouldn't start rumors."

"You should first ask what ones I have started," she replied to him in an irritated tone. "Remember when Mathew embarrassed David just because he could?" Darien nodded. "I was the one to spread it around school that Mathew still slept with a night light on." She laughed, "Little did I know it was true!"

Darien chuckled, "That isn't a bad rumor, slightly embarrassing yes, but not a bad rumor."

Serena shrugged, "I have trouble actually being mean. It's my fatal flaw."

Darien shook his head and said, "It's technically only a fatal flaw if it is going to get you killed. Being kind isn't a weakness anyway."

"Sure it is. I know she says mean things about me, but I can't stand up for myself. I wouldn't call that a strength." she reasoned and rested her head back on her knees.

"Why do you put so much energy into being popular?" he asked, changing the subject. He didn't know what to say about Serena's pronouncement.

"I'm not like you. You get great grades and have this great carer as a doctor waiting for you. I have to enjoy this time and get the most out of it. I will go on to struggle in university just like I struggle in high school and probably get a job I hate." she replied.

He let out a short laugh and said, "You just aren't looking at your strengths. Go to university and major in political science. Trust me; you understand politics much more than you think you do. I think you can do well with that."

She lifted her head and looked at him and said, "You think I would be good at that?"

"You have spent your whole high school career navigating politics, study it and put some book knowledge behind what you seem to know intuitively. I bet if you major in something you like, studying won't be such a burden anymore," he told her and closed his laptop.

She stretched her legs straight out in front of her and looked up at him, "That sounds really interesting. I'll look into a political science major and see what courses I would need to take. Thanks."

Darien wished he had left his laptop open so he would have something to look at other than her long beautiful legs. He had fantasies about those legs, and tucked away in a quiet corner of the library alone with her was too close to one of them. He cleared his throat a little and said, "You're welcome. You should probably go pack up your things; the bell is about to ring."

She pulled her legs back and stood up, and said, "Thanks for the help with the idea about a major. It means a lot coming from you."

"Why is that?" he had furrowed his brow.

"Did you forget that you don't even like me?" she asked playfully.

He rolled his eyes and said, "You still believe that ridiculous idea?"

"You're always cold too, me. Why wouldn't I believe it?" she asked, puzzled.

"I am cold to everyone, and yet I am not cold to you now." he pointed out to her.

She walked over and sat down on the chair next to him and turned to him and said, "So if you don't hate me, why don't you talk to me more?"

"I'm not good with people," he replied.

She shook her head at him, "It just takes study and practice. You seem to have no problem applying yourself to hard work in other areas of your life."

"I am good at book knowledge, and it comes easy to me. People are another story." he reasoned.

"But I get along with everyone. It shouldn't be that hard to talk to me. You would think I would be the easiest to approach." she informed him.

He rubbed his face with his hands in frustration and said, "Can't we just drop this?"

"Nope. No can do." She leaned towards him and smiled at him. "You have to tell me why you can't bother to talk to me."

He placed his hands on his thighs and sighed, "Because you are beautiful and kind, and you make me nervous."

"You think I'm beautiful?" she asked.

He rolled his eyes and said, "I have the highest IQ in this school. Yes, I think you're beautiful. I would have to be an absolute idiot to miss that fact."

She smiled and said, "You are sweet. Too bad for you that I now know your secret, and you can't avoid me."

Darien panicked a bit and asked, "You know my secret?"

"You don't hate me," she replied lightly and smiled at him.

He was relieved by her answer and nodded and said, "You're right. I don't hate you."

Just then, the bell rang, ending their class and the school day. Darien picked up his things and turned to Serena, "See you tomorrow in school." They both stood up.

She deflated and said, "Yea. I'll see you then."

"What's the matter? Even I can pick up on the fact that something is wrong," he said.

"I was having fun talking to you. I just realized that you probably won't talk to me again like this. You do seem to try to avoid me as much as possible, even though you don't hate me." she added.

"I won't avoid you anymore," he told her. He realized he would just have to keep a tight rein on his feelings for her. It had always been more comfortable from a distance.

"Don't worry, just because you are willing to talk to me now, I won't assume you are in love with me." she laughed. She winked at him and said, "Even though it's the secret hope of every girl in our school that you would fall madly in love with them."

"Every girl but you." he countered.

She shook her head, "I am hardly that original." She placed the back of her hand over her forehead in a dramatic gesture and said, "Alas, I am just like every other girl around." She laughed and smiled at him.

"It's not funny," he said.

She shrugged, "I wasn't joking."

He took a step towards her, "You're attracted to me?" he asked, surprised.

She nodded and looked up at him through her lashes, "I do have a pulse, so yes."

He ghosted his fingers down her arm and asked, "Truly?"

"Yes," she said as she pressed her body up against his.

He wrapped his arm around her and placed one hand on her waist, "If I asked you over to my place to study, would you come with me?"

"Yes," she said with a breathy voice. She pressed her body against him even more.

He felt her breasts press up against him, and he considered pushing her up against the bookshelf closest to them and kissing her. "Then let's get out of here." he managed to say.

They gathered their things, went to their lockers, and then met in front of the school. Serena told her friends she wouldn't make it to the Arcade and that she would explain later. They let it go at that for now.

Darien led the way to his apartment, and he couldn't believe that whatever was happening was real. All he was sure of was that he would have the woman of his desires in his apartment at least to study. Was she coming just to study?

By the time they made it into the elevator, they had exhausted the conversation they were able to keep up, and he stared at her, and she blushed. "I think you're more than just beautiful. You are the kindest person I have ever met." He reached over and caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

She smiled up at him, took a deep breath, and asked, "Am I reading this wrong, or do you have real feelings for me?"

"You aren't wrong," he answered, taking a step closer to her. He ran the tips of his fingers down her neck and over her collarbone. The elevator let out a ding, and he stepped back and ushered her out and to his apartment door. He opened it and let her in. He then took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway to follow her.

She slipped off her shoes and put her bag down by the front door. Darien smiled to himself, good; she didn't come over to study. She looked up at him and blushed, and he burned with desire for her. He grabbed Serena's wrist, spinning her around, pressed her back up against the wall; he then molded his body up against hers and kissed her passionately. He desperately tried to express his need for her. His hands boxed her in against the wall, and his body almost melted into hers. He moved one hand to the back of her head and tilted her head a bit so he could deepen the kiss even further. She moaned into his kiss, and he just about lost any coherent thought he had left.

"I've wanted to kiss you like that for so long," he told her once he broke the kiss.

She was left out of breath and completely overwhelmed with his kiss. "Don't move. You are the only thing holding me up right now. My legs are too weak from that kiss."

He gave her a cock smile and asked, "So, you liked that, did you?"

She chuckled, "As if you couldn't tell. But since you want to hear it, yes. That was the sexiest thing that has ever happened to me in my life, real or fantasy."

He looked at her with smoldering eyes, "I am curious about your fantasies."

"I bet you are." she looked up at him through her lashes. "You do play the leading role in all of them, after all."

"I do?" he was shocked.

She rolled her eyes and said, "Do you think I act this way around just anyone?"

He shook his head and said, "No, I don't. You've even mostly stayed out of the locker room talk. One guy tried, but everyone knew he was lying. They gave him so much crap about it too." She raised one eyebrow at him, and he said, "Sorry, that is beside the point, no. I am ruining the mood, aren't I?"

"Kiss me again, and we'll get it back."

She got up on her tiptoes and initiated a kiss, and he soon took control. He wanted her so badly and for so long. She was perfect in every way in his eyes, and he wanted her in his life, desperately. He truly wanted to be everything she could want so that she would stay. Stay with him, remain in his life, stay kissing him like this. He nipped at her lower lip and gently pulled back and looked her in the eyes as they tried to catch their breath.

He rested his forehead against hers and asked, "I will do anything for you."

She kept her forehead against his and her eyes cast at the floor, "Anything?"

"Yes, tell me what it is that you want from me," he asked of her.

"I want to hear that this isn't just hormones, that you want me to be your girlfriend. That you want me in your life," she replied nervously.

He pulled his head back and lifted her chin to look him in the eye, "I want you to be my girlfriend. I want you to be in my life; I have been crazy about you for years. I have sat back and watched you from afar, wanting to be by your side. I didn't talk to you because I didn't think I could hide my desire for you." He kissed along her jawline, and she leaned into his touch.

He slowly stepped away from her, took her hand, and pulled her over to the couch. She sat down, tucking her legs up underneath her. He sat next to her and was about to speak when she leaned forward, resting her breasts on his arm, and kissed him. That sent all of the rest of his blood south. He leaned forward and gently moved her onto her back with her legs stretched out on the couch. He hovered over her for a second before he lowered himself gently on top of her, deepening the kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly.

His right hand worked its way over her side and up and grasped her breast. She let out a moan, and he rocked up against her. "Serena, you make such delicious sounds." He nipped and sucked his way down her neck and got her to make even more. He smiled into her collarbone and rocked against her again. And there was another moan.

He raised himself a bit, and, removing his hand from her breast, he brought it to the top button of her blouse and plucked at it. She nodded, and he started to undo them one by one revealing her ample breasts. The years had matured her body, and she had grown up quite a bit. As he undid the last button, he leaned forward and kissed the exposed mound of each breast. She broke out in goosebumps.

"You look incredibly sexy in that white lace bra," he said. She grabbed his butt and pressed him into her to create friction. He rocked his hard cock up against her core, kissing her with the desperation and desire that built up over the years.

He pulled back from the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, and said, "Serena, I need to know where to stop here. I desperately want you right now." He pulled his head back a bit further and looked her in the eyes, "I love you. You need to know that now before we say or do anything more. You are everything good about the world, all wrapped up into one person. You amaze me."

She smiled brightly at him and said, "I love you too. In you, I see how everything should be. You are order and knowledge, and you take everything so seriously." She pressed her finger up against his lips to stop him from saying anything. "In you, I see a man that's incredibly sexy. I want a man who will take us seriously, who will treat me with care. I like that you can look at the future seriously and know what you want. It makes me see that your feelings would be reliable and to what you say you want from me. It makes me feel that I can trust you. I love you just the way you are."

He closed his eyes and let her words wash over him. She truly loved him for the way he is, and that floored him. He expected her to want to change something about himself. He had witnessed so many girls trying to change their boyfriends in high school that wouldn't be them.

She nibbled on her lip and said, "I'm a virgin."

Somehow he grew even more rigid. Just the reference to sex was driving him crazy. He said, "So am I. I don't have any condoms." He sighed.

Serena smirked, "Every time Mina catches me staring at you, she teases me by slipping a condom in my backpack and telling me to go for it." She chuckled and added, "That means there are two in there from today. The poor school nurse has no idea that she's the one who keeps taking them."

Darien decided Mina was his second favorite person right now. "I don't want to pressure you into anything; we don't have to have sex today." he didn't want her to regret it.

She pulled him down and whispered into his ear, "Make love to me, I want you."

He pulled her up onto her feet gently, and she walked over to her school bag and pulled out both condoms, and held them up to show him. He let out a growl, strode over, picked her up, patting her bottom and marching her to his bedroom, and placed her on his bed. "You look very sexy like that."

She removed her shirt the rest of the way and took off her skirt, revealing that her panties matched her bra. She pulled back his comforter and in her white lace bra and panties laid out on his black satin sheet.

He pulled his shirt off quickly, pulled off his pants and then his boxers, "I am going to strip you bare and make love to you." He began kissing her bare skin, nipping at it, and soothing each one with his lips and his tongue. They spent hours tangled up together in his bed making love. He reflected that the reality was far better than any fantasy that he had of her before. She was real, and she was his.