As of Yet Untitled
Chapter Two
By Karisma
Romance, Alt.
Rating: PG-13
Karisma456@hotmail.com
Standard Disclaimers Apply
2000

My tragic tale of misdemeanors pitted against me then continues to 
when I was thirteen and once again we went on what seemed to be tradition: 
Our summer vacation at the house. At this point we were all growing up; 
Andrew would even be going off to college soon. And although we had each 
matured in our own way, the Terrible Two's attitude toward me certainly 
hadn't. Well, I can't blame it all on them, my opinion of them hadn't grown 
any higher either. But I had begun to notice, after all my friends had 
pointed it out to me, that Darien and Andrew had grown to be quite 
attractive. They had both grown tall, Andrew no longer a head taller than 
his younger brother. Their faces had grown more chiseled and had taken a 
fine shape that would mark how they would look as they descended into 
adulthood.
The brothers each had their own type of attractiveness. Andrew was the 
All-American boy: blonde hair, nice tan, and twinkling hazel eyes. Darien's 
thick head of black hair contrasted wonderfully with his piercing eyes that 
usually set my friends in a swoon. I, however, acknowledged his looks with 
disdain. Yes, they were undeniably wonderful. But, no, a creep like him 
didn't deserve them.
Anyway, we had spent about a week at the house with no incident and 
needless to say, I was very suspicious.
One afternoon, we were playing a game of softball, yes, softball in the 
yard. It was Darien's turn to bat and Andrew threw him the ball. Darien hit 
it and I ran to catch it, I was backing up and before I knew it I had left 
the grass and was on the deck of the pool. I leaned over backwards to catch 
the ball and then I was floating.
No, I wasn't floating. I was falling straight down into the pool!
Now I should probably take some time apart to explain something. When I 
was thirteen, I didn't know how to swim. I never really had the time nor 
desire to learn. We didn't have a pool at our house because my mother has 
always been terrified of the water. But you can be sure that after this 
incident, I took lessons immediately.
My mother shrieked so loud my ears hurt underwater. I had fallen in the 
deepest end and was bobbing up, then sinking, bobbing up, and then sinking. 
A vicious cycle. She along with Mr. and Mrs. Sandborn ran over to the pool's 
end.
I remember seeing Darien and Andrew laughing their heads off back at 
the yard until their father yelled at them to come over and save me.
"Why doesn't she just swim?" Andrew complained, seventeen and still 
caring and sympathetic as usual.
"She doesn't know how! She doesn't know how!" My mother was in 
hysterics. I was just fighting for air and trying to stay up.
"Then what the heck is she doing in the pool?" Darien asked as if it 
was the most obvious thing.
"She fell in! Just go in and get her out!" Mr. Sandborn yelled, which 
was extremely unusual for the mild-mannered man.
"You go," Andrew gestured to his brother with his chin.
"No, you!"
"You go."
"You!"
While they had their dispute, I was contemplating giving up fighting 
and just sinking. At least that way I wouldn't have to hear this.
"John-can-point, okay?" Darien suggested and they did so. Darien got a 
rock with Andrew covered with paper. Darien groaned loudly and then suddenly 
his face brightened. "Two out of three!" They proceeded to do so again and 
Andrew won again.
Darien sighed heavily as if he was doing me the biggest favor in the 
world. He slowly took off his watch while I splashed around wildly, 
screaming through swallows of water.
"What are you doing!?" Mr. Sandborn yelled. "Go in and save her!"
"Hey! If you want her so bad, you go!" Darien shot back, hands on his 
jean-clad hips.
"You know his heart problem," Mrs. Sandborn argued and her husband 
nodded his agreement. My mother couldn't very well jump in either and my 
father was upstairs napping.
"Fine!" Darien said and he proceeded to take of the silver, chain link 
bracelet he always wore. He placed this all in his brother's hands, doing so 
patiently as if I had all the time in the world.
"Would you just go in!" Mrs. Sandborn wailed.
"Mother, please." He shushed her.
"But look at her!" She gestured to me shrieking and splashing about.
He glared at me for a second while I was making a ruckus and then he 
took on an expression as if he was developing a headache. Finally, he 
snapped. "Oh, would you just shut up! I'm coming already!" He took off his 
shirt and I'm sure he would have undone his shoes had not Mr. Sandborn 
shoved him in.
After his splashy entrance to where my home had been for the past few 
moments, he easily swam over to me and grudgingly gestured for me to come 
into his arms. I willingly did so and wrapped my arms around his bare neck. 
After a moment, I realized how close he was and just how much I liked his 
proximity. I berated myself for doing so and for thinking how his chest was 
growing harder.
I turned my head and was nose to nose with him. I lost my breath and 
stared him in his cerulean eyes, my mouth slightly parted. I jumped away, 
slightly miffed, and promptly sunk. He growled in irritation and took me in 
his arms again.
That was the first and last time I had allowed myself to get close to 
Darien. I avoided him at all costs, especially being alone with him. I knew 
I was being stupid; he probably hadn't at all felt the same way I had in the 
pool. What exactly had I felt? Certainly not attraction. That couldn't 
possibly be it.
Could it?

These doubts about my feelings for Mr. Darien Sandborn were dismissed 
as soon as I returned back to my normal schedule at home and school. Only 
later, when I was sixteen to be precise, did they rise up again.
Guess where we went for our summer vacation? Go on, guess.
Right! My happy place. Filled with sunshine and every thing good. Yeah, 
right.
One morning, my mother sent me out to find the brothers who by now had 
grown into quite good-looking adults. They had gotten up early, as usual, to 
work out in the built-in gym the house had. I entered the room to find them 
sitting next to each other on chairs, pulling up weights with their arms, 
their elbows resting on their thighs.
I nervously headed toward the pair, wringing my hands and fighting the 
urge to play with my glasses.
"Um, break--"
Darien snapped his head to me and stared in my direction. "Aren't you 
ashamed of yourself?" My head flicked up in surprise. "Here we are 
practically half-naked and you come waltzing in!"
Of course, I had no idea he was kidding. And I didn't think wearing 
tank tops and work out pants was the definition of being half-naked, but I 
didn't dare say so.
Andrew laughed and dropped the heavy weight. At twenty, he had grown up 
to be quite a ladies man, and Darien, of course, was following in his 
footsteps.
Darien's face changed immediately and his eyes laid on barbell with 
medium sized weights on either side. It was laying right at my feet. He 
donned a commanding expression and said, "Bring that barbell over her, 
Serena."
I leaned over meekly in my ankle skirt and blouse and tried to do what 
I was told. I realized just how stupid I must of looked when Andrew started 
laughing, and Darien's rich voice joined in.
Standing up immediately and trying unsuccessfully not to blush, I set 
out to fulfill the purpose I was sent here for. "Breakfast is ready." I 
rushed out and turned around to sprint out of there.
"Wait, Serena!" Andrew's voice called me back. I slowly turned around 
to face them and was startled when I realized that they were right in front 
of me. "Which one of us looks better?"
My eyes widened and I missed the amused twinkle in Andrew's eyes. I 
took a step back and they immediately followed. At that time, they looked 
positively menacing, but I would berate myself, years later, that they were 
only teasing as always.
But at the situation, what could I do? There was plain answer without 
offending one of them and that I certainly didn't want to do. I was already 
afraid of them. And now, with their built bodies honing in on me, I became 
desperate.
"I think you both look the same!" I blurted out and ran out of there as 
if Satan was nipping at my heels.
I barely heard Darien say, "That's not an answer."

It was a few days later when the tables were turned and Darien had to 
come find me so I would come down to breakfast. I, however, was not in the 
gym. No, I was happily dreaming in my warm bed when an intruder, albeit a 
handsome intruder, but an intruder nonetheless barged in my room and stalked 
over to my bed.
"Hey, sleeping beauty," he nudged my slightly and I moaned in protest. 
I was half under and half over my fluffy white covers due to the summer 
weather and was perfectly comfortable. I don't think part of me even 
acknowledged that Darien Sandborn was in my room and watching me sleep.
"Okay, Princess," he said sarcastically. "It's time to wake up and 
grace us downstairs with Your Majesty's presence."
"Let me sleep, it's summer!" I mumbled and nestled myself further into 
my warm pillow.
Darien shrugged and lifted one side of the comforter. "Fine, let's 
sleep." He then slipped into the bed, fully clothed in his usual wardrobe of 
black boots, jeans, and a long-sleeved, ribbed shirt. I didn't fully 
register his presence until he got himself comfortable and I felt him brush 
against my back. Then I shrieked and galvanized myself into action.
He came out from under the covers and stared at me innocently, his 
unusual blue-silver eyes wide. "I thought we were going to sleep."
At that moment I felt naked. No, not because I sleep that way. I had on 
flannel pajamas. But because I didn't have my glasses on, I can see just 
fine without them, but in their absence, Darien was looking at my full face, 
not just the thick lenses I wore. I raked a hand through my hair trying to 
restore order to it.
I ran to my bathroom and slammed the door shut. I found my reflection 
in the mirror and realized I didn't look that bad. My hair was slightly 
tousled and I had a slight crease on the left side of my face from the 
pillow, but other than that, I looked decent.
But why did that matter to me?!