"From This Day Forward (Part 3 to One Night Stand)"

"Lost & Found"

Michie answered the door after Serena stood there knocking for about a minute. Michie's hair was disheveled & Serena felt embarrassed for possibly disturbing or interrupting.

Michie: Hey Serena!
Serena: I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... Interrupt.

Dylan came to the door topless & his hair was disheveled as well. He lifted his hand up to say "hi".
Serena then knew for sure that she was interrupting something.

Michie: No worries. What's up?
Serena: Is Brian around?
Dylan: Uh, he's at the garage?
Serena: Oh, I see. I um. Just came to drop this off for him.
Dylan: You should go to the garage & give it to him there.
Serena: At the garage?
Dylan: Yup, that's where he is.
Serena: Ok...
Michie: He'll be happy to see you.
Serena: Ok, I guess I'll stop by the garage then.

Michie smiled & closed the door. Serena gripped the hoodie in her hands & looked down at it. She took a deep breath before heading to find Brian at the garage. It had been a while since she's seen him. And she felt that things became awkward between them. She knew he loved her & since he made it known, their friendship had never been the same. She didn't know how to be friends with someone who was in love with her. She was also confused about her own feelings about him.

She parked in the lot & saw Brian right away working on a car in the open garage. He didn't see her since he was so focused on what he was working on. She checked her face in the mirror, brushed her hair back with her hand & picked up his hoodie from the passenger seat. She walked up to the entrance & stood there. He noticed her & smiled. He quickly took his gloves off & removed his EarPods from his ears. His face lit up when he saw her standing there.

Brian: Hey stranger... What are you doing here?
Serena: Hey Brian, I um... You left this at the hospital.

Serena held out the hoodie in front of Brian. Brian smiled, but didn't take the hoodie from her.

Brian: Oh thanks! You said the hospital?
Serena: Yeah, um it was in Miranda's room.
Brian: Oh that's right. Thanks. You didn't have to come all the way over here.
Serena: I also wanted to say thank you.

Brian humbly looked down & rolled his sleeves up.

Serena: I really appreciate all the visits you made to see Miranda over the past couple weeks.
Brian: I couldn't stay away.

Serena smiled & turned half way around. Brian spoke up to stop her from leaving.

Brian: Serena, I'm off in 15 minutes. You wanna grab a bite to eat or something?
Serena: Brian...

Serena paused & took a deep breath before finishing her sentence.

Serena: I'm kinda seeing someone.
Brian: Oh.. ok.
Serena: I'm sorry.
Brian: Serena...

Serena had already taken a few steps away.

Serena: Yeah?
Brian: My hoodie...

Serena walked back to Brian & handed the hoodie to him. Their hands both brushed against each other. They made eye contact & Serena quickly looked away as Brian's gaze lingered as if to ask for more of her attention. He was obviously still in love with her in spite of the unreciprocated feelings. He wasn't going to give up now.

Brian: Thanks & you don't have to be sorry.
Serena: I know. I guess I didn't know what else to say.
Brian: This doesn't change anything on my end. I hope you know that. I'm not giving up on you, Serena.
Serena: Bye Brian.
Brian: Bye Serena...

She turned around, walked to her car & started the engine as she adjusted her rear view mirror. She could see that he was watching her. Serena was confused. Why did she feel bad for breaking Brian's heart? Why did she feel like a part of her heart was also breaking? She & Antonio had a connection & Serena wanted to explore more of that. Serena & Antonio had so much in common & Brian would never fully understand her even if he said he loved her. Out of impulse, Serena drove to Antonio's house. She didn't want to go home & she didn't want to be alone. Antonio met her in the driveway.

Antonio: Hey, I got your message. Everything ok? You got me worried...

Antonio peered into her car & saw she was crying. She opened her car door & he squatted in front of her & held her hand.

Serena: Thanks for meeting me. I can't be alone right now...
Antonio: I'm here. It's ok. You're not alone, Serena.

He gently caressed her hand.

Antonio: You want to come inside?
Serena: Is that ok?
Antonio: Of course.

Antonio took Serena by the hand & led her to his room. It was getting dark & Antonio's grandparents were fast asleep. Serena sat on Antonio's bed & Antonio sat next to her. He held her hand & she was looking down. He lifted her face up gently & tucked the hair in front of her face behind her ear. She looked him in the eye & he looked back at her.

Serena: Antonio?
Antonio: Yeah?
Serena: You care about me, right?
Antonio: I do.
Serena: And you like me, right?

Antonio chuckled softly.

Antonio: Serena, I thought I was clear about how I felt about you. I'm crazy about you... Besides my son, you're all I ever think about.
Serena: Really?

Antonio nodded.

Serena: What do you think about when you think about me?

Antonio got closer to Serena.

Antonio: I think you're stronger than you think. I think your beauty is matchless.

Serena took off her jacket and revealing her low cut blouse inside.

Serena: What do you think about my body?

Antonio gulped as he eyed Serena's chest.

Antonio: I think...

Serena put a finger up to Antonio's lips.

Serena: Shh... Don't tell me what you think. Show me.
Antonio: What are you asking me to do, Serena?
Serena: Antonio, I want you to make love to me...