Aftermath
“And let’s see who’s under the lucky mistletoe this year!” Gail smiled into the audience at her granddaughter and her prince Charming, or un-charming, whatever. The surprise was evident, and it seemed to put an uncomfortable aura of hatred and confusion around them.
She looked above the heads of the surprised two to find they were under the gold mistletoe.
“Serena Larynce and Darien Dredsdale, do you have something to tell us?” Gail beamed. This was luck! Who knew the Christmas spirit would agree that Serena Larynce was just what Darien Dredsdale needed, and Darien Dredsdale was just what Serena Larynce needed? “Now kiss.”
Serena had always laughed at the tradition before, because the two found under the gold mistletoe usually WERE engaged by next Christmas. It was odd and scary. This year, she had totally forgot to look to the ceiling for the hidden mistletoe, which she had always found year after year. She had forgotten, and it was obviously very bad luck that she and Darien were standing underneath the darn thing.
But with the audience around, she didn’t argue. Christmas traditions were never argued. Especially Larynce traditions. Apparently, as she looked into Darien’s eyes, they seemed to agree on this point. He leaned in, and kissed her on the lips, and she kissed lightly back. Immediately when their lips touched, they moved back, stiffly, and they left the room together, keeping charade up, but secretly confused.
Serena entered her bedroom. How dare the Christmas spirit, or whatever it was, choose her to fall in love with a man she so obviously despised? It was evident that they didn’t love each other. Serena didn’t want to get married, and Darien would hardly be the husband she would have chosen if she were actually going to get married. Sure, he WAS handsome, and he was a worthy bickering opponent, but really, what else could they do together?
What shocked her was the fact that they actually had gotten along that afternoon. It proved that they could, and to her mortification, it proved they could have a WONDERFUL time together.
Sickened with a queasiness in her stomach, Serena slipped off her gown and went to her shower, attempting to wash away all the mixed-up feelings she was getting. *ME AND DARIEN DREDSDALE?!?! HA!!!!*
“It’s destiny, I tell you!” Lita told her husband. “They ARE attracted to each other, and destiny arranged it so that they’d meet unbiased first, and feel the attraction in person, and destiny made it so that they’d meet tonight before the ball and force them to stick together so long! And destiny for SURE made the mistletoe above their heads!”
“But who knows if the mistletoe actually works!”
“It worked for Mina and Andrew, and Betty and Lincoln the year before last, and in fact, I think Serena’s own mother and father were under that mistletoe once. The mistletoe doesn’t lie, Ken!”
“Well, I just think that destiny or not, they are great complements for each other, and anyone can see that though they despise each other, they greatly respect each other. Who knows?”
The mask was beautiful, with sequins and diamonds and pearls all over it. It was bordered by swan feathers and had an air of extravagance.
Darien fingered the mask in his hand. They never returned each other’s masks. Well, he’d keep hers then. It was too elaborate and beautiful to just throw away, and undoubtedly expensive. It was so delicate and sophisticated. Just like its owner.
So Rena was actually Serena, the former first kid, and the Ice Queen as he had always dubbed her. From the behavior she had displayed this evening, he’d believe it, but from the happiness, innocence and kindness she had naturally displayed this afternoon, Darien was inclined to disagree.
Serena Larynce was a puzzle. That was the only way to describe it.
