I Shouldn’t NEED Him
Serena stepped out of the limo, and smiled to Darien, putting her gloved hand on his arm, as he guided her into the opera house. He held her hand lightly in his.
Her heart was pounding. He always made her feel so nervous now. However, there was something in his presence that indicated that if he WEREN’T here, she’d feel even more miserable. Therefore, she found a strange comfort in being on her nerves.
They walked up together and walked into a box where they greeted Amy and Greg.
“It’s so wonderful that you could join us!” Amy smiled.
Serena kissed her friend’s cheek and shook Greg’s hand. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, and all.”
“Great.”
“Besides, Darien and I haven’t been able to be together for a while,” she said, tightening her grip slightly on Darien’s hand.
It was all strange and out of whack now.
Serena really didn’t know what to think. It had been a month since that day Mina had her child, but Serena remembered like it was yesterday.
The holding, the comforting. Serena and Darien never really talked about it, but she knew that she needed him there when he came. And she knew that he knew it too, or else, he might not have been there.
He just knew she needed him. He had flown to Los Angeles, fought the crowds and found Andrew, and together, they had set out for Cheyenne. Darien had driven them to the hospital in a rented car, and was parking as Andrew rushed to his wife to congratulate his wife and see his son.
Darien rushed to his fiancee, to hold her and tell her that she had done a wonderful job.
And Serena still didn’t know why she cried that day. Darien never talked about it either. But she realized one thing that day; she needed Darien that day, more than she had ever needed anyone in her life. The emptiness was filled that day, and though the emotions and feelings she had been trying to avoid in herself had surfaced, she ignored them, and found that the filling of that void was well worth the confusion. But only for that day. It was strange now. Serena Larynce depended on Darien, for a day. But it didn’t matter that it was a day. It was the fact she had depended on him…counted on him…TRUSTED him. It was strange to have that dependence on someone. Serena never thought that it would be possible to depend so much on one person. But then again, after that event, she never really NEEDED Darien to hold her again. She was all right afterwards. But she was changed too.
She liked talking to him every night, even if it WAS to argue over something. But it was hardly like that. In fact, if they didn’t abhor each other, they might have been friends. But then again, Serena knew that what they had was not dislike either.
It was all in the middle in that cloudy gray area, she supposed. Darien was a nice guy to keep conversation with, and a good person to calm her down when she was feeling distressed. Other than that, well, those feelings of melting were hardly what she called permanent dependence or anything, nor were they anything to worry about, because as for as her life was concerned, those problems did not even exist.
But she liked being around him. He made her feel beautiful with his flirting and teasing. It was the game, and the game, and she played the game as well. To the press, they were Camelot all over again. Beautiful princess and HOT TO DIE FOR prince. She sometimes thought that it was because she even WAS beautiful, or at least with him, and at times, she believed that she even looked beautiful to him. And even THAT thrilled her. The way that he’d look at her while they danced, even if it WAS an act. The way he’d hold her possessively, even if it WAS all a joke. It made her feel warm and gooey inside.
No! She was acting like a teenager?
Was she falling in love with love again?
Or was she falling in love with Darien?
Either was bad, but the second was worse.
She sat at a dining table, alone, looking into the crowd absentmindedly. She didn’t like going to these events alone. She wished he had come with her.
As she put her silver fork down on her plate and sat back in her chair, she DID wish that Darien was here. They’d be playing the game again, or whispering something about Candy Larynce’s low-cut see-though getup.
Serena sighed and played with a stray tendril that came across her face. She then reached her hand back and fixed in the curls in the amethyst and silver barrette more securely.
At that moment, Darien Dredsdale was standing at the doorway, watching his fiancee in blank and obvious admiration. Dressed in lavender velvet, with a silver-embroidered bodice, low-cut and sleeveless, and very form-fitting, her blond curls, which now reached past her shoulders, and curled lightly with bright silver and sparkling amethyst among the strands of gold. The straps of the gown here an inch thick and came down in an oval, and Serena had worn a gorgeous amethyst and silver necklace.
She was beautiful, and Darien knew everything about that beauty, for he studied it time after time after time. She never was too dull to study, and everything about her appearance was fascinating, and perfect.
But that wasn’t the only thing about Serena Larynce. She had a heart of gold. She had frozen it before for protection, but he liked to see that ice melt away, leaving nothing but a vulnerable girl, whom he was falling in love with.
He was accepting it now. Serena Larynce was different in his eyes from any other woman because he had special feeling for her. It was different to be with her than any other person in his life. He was defensive because he was vulnerable. He had told her more about himself than he had ever told anyone in his whole life. That touched him, and frightened him. It was so soon, wasn’t it?
He sighed and decided that he wanted to get SOME dances with his fiancee this evening, and if he just stood there the rest of the evening, he was getting nowhere.
Serena sighed, thinking about him. *He’s at some dinner with some cousins, and I understand that, but if he were my true fiancee, and if he loved me, he’d be with ME, or I’d be with him. It wouldn’t matter. But then again, it’s only business arrangement. It’s not like we’re going to actually get married,* she thought, regretfully
At that moment, she felt a light tap on her shoulder and she immediately sensed the touch. It was the touch of Darien. Only his would make her feel so frightened and pleased at the same time.
She turned cautiously, hiding her small affection in the midst of blue confusion.
Darien took her into his arms, a gesture of an fiancee that came with the contract, and whispered, “Thought you’d be bored.”
“Without our bickering? I have to admit, Dredsdale, it IS rather dull without your annoying presence.”
“How about we leave? It’s only nine, and we can walk around a little.”
Serena felt her heart beat faster. “How about we stay here?” *Where it’s safer for me to stay around you, where you can be that sweet fiancee I want you to be.*
Darien, inwardly disappointed decided to accept it, and instead offered his hand, “Care to dance then?”
“I’d love to.”
As the walked out to the dance floor, Serena worried that she was spending too much time getting to know this young man who was easily taking away her life from her grasp.
He held her hand, as they walked into the chapel, and sat in chairs, smiling at Greg, who stood at the front, with his best man at his side.
Serena gripped his hand even tighter as some of the Larynce princesses approached them.
He smiled, and put his hand protectively about her waist.
She smiled at him, and kissed him on the cheek, making her blush, as she realized that they had an audience. He chuckled, and guided her to a seat.
As they sat, watching the wedding take place, Serena felt her hand being held affectionately. As Amy walked down the aisle, her eyes sparkling with mirth and excitement, Serena smiled at her cousin, and felt the tears coming.
He smiled at her, and touched her cheek, with his finger, collecting her tears, making her smile.
As the two at the altar said their vows, the two in their seats watched with ardor and a seriousness that forced them to think about this…
