Serena Mclane's P. O. V I try to not let my eyes wander over to Damien who sits right beside me. But nonetheless my eyes dart to him quickly before I look back out the window. "The family dinner has been extended." Damien answers in a smooth voice. Hearing him speak up makes me jump slightly as this is the first time he's actually spoken from his last little baffling comment. "What do you mean?" I ask for clarification but I have a feeling I know what he means. My parents really can't live without throwing a dinner party at least once a week. "Other people are coming. Like a get together with more people." He explains bluntly, confirming my thoughts. "Did Dad tell you?" I ask now turning to look at him. His once emotionless face now tightens into annoyance as he clenches his jaw. "Your sister told me." He grinds out. My eyes widen at the tidbit of information and a previous suspicion that lingered before now makes a full fledged appearance once more. "Sarah?" Is all I say. Damien turns to me, a blank look on his face. "Don't start Serena." My mouth falls open as I look at him in contemplation, "I wasn't starting anything." I mumble though it is far from the truth. Damien gives me a disbelieving look. "So is there anything going on between you and my sister?" I try to ask innocently. Damien sighs out loud as he turns to look at me. "Why do you care?" "She's my sister and I have a right to know." This all seems so repetitive. Damien shakes his head at my comment. "No, there is nothing going on between us, now drop it." I grumble in my seat but don't make any more conversation. "Don't try to pick any more fights especially while in there." Damien murmurs, pointing to my parents house now looming in the distance. "I'm not picking anything." I huff in disdain. The dinner hasn't even started and we've managed to tick each other off. My mouth thins into a grim line as I take in the line of cars all parked up the streets. Damien tells the driver to stop the car a little ways from the road and then jumps out along with me. "You can't be serious." I growl out as he opens my door for me. "What?" He asks as he looks around. "Have you ever tried walking in heels? Hmm?" I ask rhetorically. "I can't say I have." He answers, "If you want me to carry you. I can." He says motioning for me to step closer. However I laugh and step back. "No. No. I'm fine." I say in a rush, feeling self conscious about him carrying me. Damien grunts in response and holds his arm out for me to hold onto. Latching my hand onto his arm, the both of us make the short trek to my house. Knocking on the door, we both await in an awkward silence until my mother emerges with a radiant smile on her face. "Serena! Damien!" She coos before pulling me into her arms, hugging me fiercely. I reciprocate the gesture and have to hold back the sudden flood of emotions that want to make their way through. "How have you been?" She whispers into my ear while I just shrug, taking a step back. "Both of you do come in. And sorry about all the people. But you know how your father gets Serena." She throws over her shoulder as she escorts us over to the garden where fairy lights are set up all around our huge back yard, intertwining with the branches of the trees, giving off a magical effect. I sigh, already predicted that this would happen. Emerging fully into the backyard, my eyes meet throngs of people, all scattered around as they go from one couple to another, conversing about one thing or another. Finding inner strength, I try to pry myself away from Damien so that I can meet some people I actually like here in the crowd but Damien doesn't let go. "Damien." I whisper so as to not catch any attention, "Let go." Damien glares down at me, shaking his head. "No." He mutters as if that will stop me from moving away from his hold. However it does momentarily make me pause. "What do you mean no?" "You will stay by my side throughout this entire dinner. I've already said this once." I try to retaliate but stop as a familiar feminine figure makes her way through the crowd. Her strawberry blonde hair flying wildly about with every step she takes. Her short frame pushing past people as she makes her way towards me; A determined look on her face. "Serena Vivian Mclane!" She scolds. Damien gets a far off distant look before his lips part, "Vivian." He murmurs testing my name out. Staring at him, I decide then and there that I quite like my middle name. Snapping out of my gawking, I smile sheepishly at the spitfire before me. "Hey." I say lamely.Her glare deepens at my stupid excuse of a greeting after so long. I did speak to her earlier today on the phone. Why is she still so wound up? Amelia looks at Damien and gives him a once over, her eyes darting to me and then him. She ignores him without saying anything and tugs me away but Damien still doesn't let me go. "She's my best friend. We'll be right there." I say pointing to the side. "I said no Ser-" "Excuse us please." She says, glaring at him through devilish grey eyes. I cringe back as both of their holds tighten on me. I feel like a rag doll being tugged between two children who claim that they saw me first. Not a pleasant situation. I look at Damien, my facial expression turning into something akin to a 'puppy dog look' as I try to coax him into letting me go. Damien sighs and lets go of me while Amelia smiles in triumph. Tugging me to a secluded corner, still in the line of sight of Damien, Amelia starts ranting off on me. "I know, I'm a horrible person. A worthless excuse of a best friend but I'm sorry." I say in defeat. Amelia huffs and crosses her arms. I can tell she just wanted me to say that and mean it. She sighs and then thinks for a bit before hugging me. "I missed you." She grumbles. I let out a short laugh, "It's been a few days." She shrugs but then picks up a strand of my red hair as I glance at her in confusion. "Your hair is getting longer." I roll my eyes at her daft exclamation and find myself hugging her once more. "So who's that brooding brute." She asks winking at me. I huff out a laugh, "You know exactly who and what he is to me." Her eyes widen as she glances back at Damien, turning my head, I see him staring back at me, not caring that I just caught him staring or not. "Well damn. Never thought it was that serious." She says. I roll my eyes at her statement but don't comment. Amelia lets out a groan as she looks at someone behind me. "That guy is such a cutie but damn it he doesn't realise that no means no." Before I can turn around to ask who she's actually talking about, a very distinct voice answers up from behind me. "Hello ladies." "Of course, its you." I say blandly however my tone doesn't match the amused smile on my face as I watch Greg saunter his way over to us, throwing his arm around Amelia and I. "Did you know Serena, that Amelia over here was just about to agree to going out on a date with me." Greg says smugly, winking at Amelia. "And did you know Serena, that getting restraining orders on people is actually quite easy." Amelia threatens, throwing Greg a deep glare. I let out a nervous laugh as I try to make my way away from those two. That can never end well. Luckily Damien strides over and without even glancing at them nor asking to excuse me and himself, he walks away with myself as silently as he came. "Never leave my side again. That was a one time thing." He mutters to me while I nod along not really interested. I just want this to end as soon as possible so I can go home and lay in bed. At least there's good food here, I think wth a mental groan.