Eyes of Teenage Runaway
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: I know I should be working on my other stories…but I couldn't resist. And if there's a Centennial College…well we're going to pretend this is a different one. R&R PLEASE!
Flashback
Summary: Looking into those eyes, they seem so familiar. To close for comfort, familiar, he didn't like it; he didn't like staring into the eyes of a teenage runaway, his teenage runaway. Hit with déjà vu like a
bright yellow school bus by looking into those eyes, he felt nauseous.
"C'mon, Babe, we need to go." Twenty-five year old Casey McDonald gathered her seven year old daughter's bags into her arms and put them in the car.
"Mommy, where are we going?" She asked, those big blue eyes reflecting into Casey's.
"We're going to see Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Edwin, Aunt Lizzie, Aunt Marti and D…Uncle Derek." She smiled softly as her daughter's eyes filled with excitement.
"Uncle Derek is number eighteen for the Leafs, isn't he?" She asked and Casey smiled, nodding.
"Sure is, and I know how you like your hockey." She winked at her and her daughter smiled.
"He's the best player ever! I can't believe he's my uncle!" Casey sat in the front seat and smiled sadly.
"Yeah…he's pretty great, isn't he?" She shook her head and began to drive.
"I'm going to ask him for an autograph…ooh! Maybe he'll play hockey with me!" She pumped her fist and did a dance from where she was sitting. Casey laughed and looked at her daughter through her mirror.
"Don't bring out the big guns as soon as you see him, Kaylie, you might scare him off." She laughed as Kaylie rolled her eyes, she was almost a spitting image of Casey…darn that smirk and hair!
"Oh please! He won't be scared…I think. We of the McDonald attitude are quite intimidating!" Casey's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Are you sure you're seven?" She shrugged and began to gush about how cool it would be to finally see her family. Casey smiled and nodded, offering different stories about her days in the McDonald/Venturi household.
"Are you serious? You two actually fought over the fact his best friend liked you?!" Kaylie asked; her eyes wide with disbelief. Casey nodded, still chuckling.
"You see; at that point, Sam and I had already dated-"
"Whoa, whoa…Sam, as in Sam Shepherd? As in number seven on the Leafs? You dated him?!" Kaylie's jaw was dropped as she stared at her mother. "No way. Does he remember you?" Case smiled at her daughter.
"We still talk. He calls me, I call him…we became really great friends." Kaylie sighed.
"And why am I only finding this out now?" She asked pointedly and Casey shrugged.
"It never came up…anyways, Sam and I had already dated and he told Derek that he liked me again and this whole thing happened. I don't even remember it fully." She rolled her eyes at the petty fights se and Derek used to have.
"So…are we almost there?" Kaylie asked and Casey sighed.
"I was waiting for that to come up…"
"I'm so excited to see Case!" Lizzie cried, jumping around, doing the most random things as Edwin lounged on the couch, watching his fiancée go crazy.
"Yeah, and she said she has a surprise…also said something about having an extra empty room." Edwin said; his voice muffled through a mouth full of chips.
"Probably bringing a guy." She rolled her eyes, "I despise that possibility." She said, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at the door.
"Eh…you only say that 'cause you don't know what happened with her and Derek and it's killing you. You never really let go of the fact they aren't together anymore." He shrugged and she violently threw a pillow at his head, which he dodged expertly.
"You know you're dying to find out. Which we will!" She said.
"Right, Liz. Good luck with that." Once again, she rolled her eyes and threw something at his head; this time nailing his cheek. "Hey!" She shrugged and stuck her tongue out. Before Edwin could act there was a knock at the door. Lizzie darted to the door and opened it excitedly.
"Oh my God, it's so great- oh it's you." Her voice drained completely as she saw Derek in the doorway instead of Casey.
"Thanks, Liz; it's great to see you too." He said with a raised eyebrow. Edwin stood beside her and pushed her shoulder slightly.
"Oh! No, it's just I was hoping to see…" A devious smile appeared on her face as she spoke. "Someone else; another guest, but you're always welcome." She hugged him and looked at Edwin pointedly. "I don't need your luck." She said and hopped up the stairs. Edwin watched and bit his lip and he heard her laughing menacingly.
"Wow…Dude, she may be weirder than you." Derek said an amused eyebrow quirked up. Edwin sighed and shook his head.
"Welcome home, bro. It's good to see you…finally." He said pointedly.
"Well, you know…I was just busy-"
"Avoiding Casey." He finished the sentence for Derek and Derek nodded shamefully.
"Yeah…kind of. Sorry."
"No need to be; she hasn't been around either. Now if you'll excuse me, I owe Lizzie fifty bucks."
"What was the bet this time?" Derek asked, amused.
"Oh…you'll find out." He saw a glimpse of a car parking outside the house and he smirked. "Sooner than you think, actually." And with that he descended up the stairs.
"Never mind, Ed, you're still the weirdest!" He called up and jumped at the sound of a shriek.
"Oh my God! You're-you're Derek Venturi!" Kaylie jumped up and down and stared at her hockey idol.
"Uh…yeah, I am…who are you?" He eyed the little girl standing before him, not really seeing just…looking.
"Kaylie, just because the door was open does not mean you barge right on…in." Casey's eyes met those of Derek and she froze momentarily. "Derek." She said softly and he looked at her in amazement.
"What's going on? Oh…" Nora stepped in from the kitchen and looked at the awkward sight. "Okay, could you guys, maybe refrain on fighting? George's turning fifty…we don't want any blow-ups." Casey smiled at her mother and pulled Kaylie away from Derek and into the view of Nora.
"Mom, this is my daughter, Kaylie." Nora looked down at her and smiled in amazement.
"Wow she's-"
"She's your what?!" Derek asked in astonishment. Casey puffed out her cheeks and turned to look at him.
"My daughter; I'm going to unpack." Casey took up off the stairs with the bags and headed into her old room.
"So, kiddo, you like hockey?" Derek asked as Kaylie sat on the sofa while he lounged in his recliner, the channel set to a hockey game.
"Duh…" She said, stealing a hand full of popcorn from the bowl on Derek's lap. He smirked.
"You're a pretty cool kid. Are you sure you're Casey's daughter?" The happiness in Kaylie's eyes disappeared and was replaced by rage as she looked at Derek.
"I'm proud to be my mom's daughter; she survived so much, she went to college, work, pregnancy and raising me all at once. She could have easily given me up, but she didn't. I don't know my dad, but if he wasn't decent enough to stick around than I don't want to know him. If he walked away from my mom because she was pregnant with me then he's completely stupid. So, yes, I'm sure I'm her daughter, and I'm proud of it; because if I have even half the strength she did…then I can survive anything in life." She got up off the couch and turned to leave, leaving Derek stunned.
"Wait, kid!" He got up and she stopped, turning to face him. "I didn't mean it like that, I apologize, I know Casey's strong. I was just kidding." Kaylie shrugged.
"Doesn't matter. Now you know, I don't take well to people talking about my mom like that, whether you're her brother or not."
"Step." He muttered as she walked away and into the kitchen.
"He must've been shocked." Sam's voice said as Casey rubbed her temple, her cell phone pressed tightly to her ear.
"He flipped, after, like a minute, he just yelled 'she's your what?' I think they were watching a hockey game together after that…I nearly fainted at the sight of the backs of their heads…literally, it's like she's got a wig made out of his hair. The resemblance is crazy." Casey explained.
"Wow, I believe it. Listen, you said she's a fan of the Leafs?"
"Obsessed fan." Casey chuckled and Sam accompanied her.
"Well…how about I get you two amazing seats to the game tomorrow? My treat, as long as I get to meet the Leafs' greatest fan." Casey smiled; Sam was such a great friend.
"Thanks, but I don't-"
"Don't worry about it. I get 'em for free anyways." He said nonchalantly.
"Thanks, Sam. Kaylie'll be thrilled." Casey said.
"No problem, after the game we'll grab something to eat…and y'know, maybe Derek'll join us…" He mumbled the last part and Casey's brows furrowed.
"Sorry, what was that?" She asked.
"Maybe Derek will join us?" He asked slowly and Casey froze momentarily.
"Derek…as in Derek Venturi, as in my Kaylie's father, as in my ex-boyfriend, as in my stepbrother?" She asked frantically. "You want him to join us?!" She cried into the phone's mouthpiece.
"Okay…OW! This thing called a phone, yeah, it's near my ear!" He whined into the phone and she rolled her eyes.
"Whatever Sam; I know Kaylie is like…Derek's number one fan or whatever; so you ask him to come and mention nothing of my approval. Okay?" She was pretty sure she heard Sam gulp and smirked.
"Yes, ma'am!" He said into the phone. Casey chuckled and he sighed. "See you tomorrow at six?" He asked.
"Yup; me and Kay, in those disgusting seats …watching the Leafs kick some Canadien ass!" She said and Sam let out a whoop.
"That's the spirit we want at that game tomorrow! Don't de-perk yourself, 'kay? We need that; we live for that…especially Derek!" He said the last part in a sing-song voice and Casey smiled sadly.
"I know, Sam…but it makes no difference. You know what happened the night I left…you know why, and you know more than anyone else does. I trust you to not tell him…that's my job, and he finds out from me and me only…that will most likely never happen."
"Case, he deserves to know. What are you afraid of?" Sam asked softly, knowing this was a touchy subject for her.
"Rejection…of not only me, but of Kaylie. I'm afraid he won't believe me…or he will; you know he'd feel obligated to take care of his child…and whoosh goes his career as top player in the NHL. I couldn't live with myself if I did that."
"Casey he-"
"I gotta go. See you tomorrow." Casey dismissed and flipped her phone shut then sighed deeply before plopping down on her bed and staring at the ceiling; begging the tears to go away as she remembered that night.
Eighteen year-old Casey McDonald sat on her bed, curled up and reading a book as she waited for her Derek Venturi, her boyfriend, to get home. Faintly she heard a door open and slam shut and she smiled, knowing it was him coming in. She sat up straight and waited for him to walk through her door.
"You awake?" He whispered through the door and popped his head in.
"Yes, Derek, I'm awake…I was waiting for you; I've got some…news." She smiled a half-smile and he looked at her, trying to return with his own but he failed miserably.
"Look, I've got something to say too…but you can go first." He said, and sat at the foot of her bed, she leaned in to kiss him but he just stood up, as though he hadn't noticed.
"Um…why don't you go first?" Casey offered and he nodded.
"Look, Casey…you know I love you right?" She nodded, smiling. "That'll never change, got it? I…I've really been messing up my life lately and my dad…he seems so disappointed in me. I need him to be proud of me, you know? I think, dating my stepsister isn't exactly the right way to get him to be proud of me…sorry, but it's over, Casey." Casey's smiled dropped all at once and she stared at him, waiting for him to say 'joking!' or for some sign that he wasn't for real.
"I-I…okay." She said; her voice just above a whisper. He nodded and stood awkwardly.
"What was it you needed to say?" He asked before leaving. Her eyes were brimmed with unshed tears, though Derek couldn't see due to the dark, as she looked up at him.
"It isn't important anymore." He nodded then swiftly exited her room, she stared at the closed door he just left through and the tears spilled over like an overflowing bathtub. She stood and walked over to her closet, pulling out her suitcases and clothes. She was leaving.
With everything packed, all she needed to do was grab the keys to her car and the directions on her desk to the performing arts college she got a full scholarship to in Toronto. She stood in the midst of her empty room; feeling as though something was being left behind.
She shook off the feeling and left. One piece of Derek was coming with her; and many secrets along with it.
"Wow, you've got Casey's eyes exactly!" Lizzie said as she was introduced to Kaylie.
"Thanks, I love 'em!" Kaylie said, grinning widely.
"So cute." Lizzie gushed and turned to Edwin. "Isn't she?" Edwin nodded.
"I'm gonna go grab a large stick." He said, walking into the backyard.
"For what?" Kaylie asked incredulously.
"So I can beat all the pretty boys out there who want a piece of you with the pretty stick." He explained and Lizzie smiled.
"He's so protective." Kaylie shrugged and smiled.
"It's okay. Makes up for my lack of a dad." She explained and Lizzie felt a tang of pain hit her.
"Oh…"
"Don't feel sorry; it's fine, my mom is awesome. I admire her a lot." Lizzie smiled at the young girl as she went to join Edwin outside.
"If only she knew…" Lizzie said softly to herself.
Lizzie woke up earlier than usual and went to check if Casey was awake. She trailed to the room but once she got there she was utterly shocked. A gasp escaped her throat and she stepped into the room. All that was left the bed, its comforter and blankets and the furniture. She walked in and heard something from inside the closet fall.
She jumped slightly and opened the closet, a shoebox had tipped over and its contents were spilled onto the floor; slowly, Lizzie went through each item one by one. She stopped as she found a pregnancy test that read positive and a piece of paper, it looked crumpled at the edges with tear stains and the ink was smudged. She read through it as best she could.
I'm pregnant, I found out today. Only Sam knows and I plan on telling Derek soon. I don't know how he'll take it, but I know he'll be a great father. He's fantastic with Marti…and I love him so much. I know we're young, but I have faith in him, faith in us. We can make it together…I just hope he loves me enough to be here for me…
Lizzie's eyes watered; she knew what had happened now. Casey and Derek…they had dated. Casey was pregnant, and for some reason she left. Lizzie figured it was one of three things.
Casey hadn't told him, and she felt she shouldn't have, so she took off.
They broke up so Casey hadn't told him and left.
Derek rejected the baby and Casey…so she ran.
"Dude, it was crazy seeing her again…God, she looks good." Derek said as he tilted his head back, his eyes closed as he talked to Sam before the game.
"You need to talk to her." Sam said pointedly. "I mean…talk, as in conversation." He said and Derek sighed.
"I find it hard to just be in the presence of her without jumping the chick, how the hell do I sit there, and listen to her and watch her lips move to something that isn't my own?" Derek asked annoyed and Sam rolled his eyes.
"Don't stare at her lips, Nimrod." He said.
"That's a hard thing to do. You know…she's got a daughter. A seven year old daughter. Meaning she was with somebody within the same year we were together and broke up. Damn chick bounces back fast." He muttered and Sam's jaw clenched.
"Sure Derek." He stood up and left Derek on the bench, lacing his skates.
"What the hell is wrong with him?" Derek asked himself as he left the locker room.
"Mommy, this is so cool!" Kaylie cried out from her seat.
"Yeah…it is, you need to thank Sam when we see him, okay? He got these amazing tickets for us." Kaylie's eyes widened.
"I…I'm going to meet two hockey stars in the matter of two days?! This. Is. SO. Cool!!!" Casey laughed as Kaylie did her sitting dance again.
"And all you need to do is cheer on the Leafs and boo the Canadiens." Casey explained and Kaylie smiled largely, watching as the team aligned onto the ice.
"And Venturi scores again! Five, three, Leafs!" The announcer claimed excitedly.
"Woo! GO EIGHTEEN!" Kaylie screamed at the top of her lungs and Casey joined her with woos.
"The puck is aligned, Shepherd has a straight shot…he shoots…and…oh! It's blocked off by Lipinski!"
"Leafs! Leafs! Leafs! Leafs!" The crowd chanted loudly. The buzzer sounded, signifying half-time. The home team, being the Toronto Maple Leafs, gathered around the coach and when they had their play they talked amongst themselves. Sam made his way over to where Casey and Kaylie were sitting and waved.
"Having fun, Kaylie?" Her eyes widened and she smiled largely, showing off her missing front tooth and nodded frantically. "Glad to hear it!" He smiled and skated back to the team.
"Oh my God; Sam Shepherd knows my name!" Kaylie said, her joy showing tremendously.
The buzzer sounded and the teams aligned on the ice again.
"My God it's freezing in here." Casey muttered, teeth chattering. Kaylie rolled her eyes.
"Duh, Mommy; this is a skating rink." She said. "Look, Derek's gonna score again!" She watched intently leaning closer to the glass slightly to see.
"Venturi has the puck…he shoots…he scores! Six, three, Leafs! The game's looking good for the home team right about now, Venturi with a streak of four goals!" The announcer said.
"Go Derek!" The two of them shouted loudly. His head whipped around and he saw Casey smiling and watching the game and him. For some reason, he saw her in slow motion, so when it registered that her face went from joy to shock he had already been body checked up against the glass and she cringed.
"Pay attention, Venturi!" The coach barked at him and he shook it off, getting up and joining his teammates.
"Ow…that probably hurt." Casey mumbled and Kaylie looked between Derek and Casey, her brows furrowed.
"He got checked 'cause he was checkin' something else." She said pointedly, an eyebrow rose. Casey's eyes widened.
"Young lady, you are seven years old, you don't speak that way! Who taught you that?!"
"I heard Uncle Edwin and Uncle Derek talking." She said innocently, though Casey knew she was far from it.
"I'm going to have to talk to Derek." Casey muttered, turning her attention back at the game.
"Dude…seven, three! Can you believe it?!" Sam asked and Derek glared at him.
"You gave them tickets." Sam raised an eyebrow at him.
"Who?"
"You know damn straight who. You gave Kaylie and Casey tickets. You knew she had a daughter before I told you!" Sam shrugged.
"We kept in touch, she told me." Derek looked at him in disbelief.
"And you never told me?"
"She said not to, D. Look you really need to talk to her. I'm taking her and Kaylie out to eat, come along." Sam walked away into the showers and Derek stood there, why was Sam so set on him talking to Casey?
"That was so cool; thank you so much Mr. Shepherd!" Kaylie cried out as Sam met them in front of the hockey rink.
"Don't mention it, and call me Sam…Mr. Shepard makes me sound old." Casey laughed and gave him a side hug.
"Thanks Sam."
"Don't go thanking me just yet. I've invited-"
"Hey, you ditch me in the locker room? What kind of best friend are you?" Derek's voice said from behind Sam.
"-Derek." Casey inwardly groaned and her mind screamed 'DRAMA'.
"You were so great Uncle Derek!" Kaylie cried out and hugged him; he returned the hug and laughed slightly.
"Four goals, it was impressive until you got body checked." Casey said with a sweet smile. For the first time in seven years their eyes locked. A collision of blue and brown. Secrets swimming around, hidden hurt, scared desire, and most importantly, longing of love in their eyes.
"Hey, Kaylie, want to go to the restaurant in my Porsche?" Kaylie beamed at Sam and nodded.
"Can I go Mom?" Casey nodded and Sam smirked.
"Great so you'll catch a ride with Derek. Fantastic." It wasn't really registered what Sam had said as he walked away, they were too lost in thoughts and memories.
"Why'd you leave?" He asked quietly and saw her eyes looking lost. Looking like those of a teenage runaway, no longer a teenager.
"You don't need to know that." She replied, just above a whisper.
"You don't think I deserve too? I woke up and you were gone." He said and she heard his words drip with sadness.
"What did it matter? You put your happiness before anyone else's. That's the way it was, that's the way it always will be. I was stupid to think different." She said coldly.
"You don't really believe that. You seriously regret being with me?" She sighed.
"No. I don't; we should go, Kaylie is on the way to the restaurant." She turned to leave but Derek grabbed her arm and spun her into him. She was pressed against his hard chest and their faces were mere centimeters apart.
"I never put myself before you." He whispered before pushing his lips against hers in a hard kiss. Casey felt the familiar tears hit her cheeks as he caressed her lips lovingly with his own. Her hands felt cold, her lips warm and her tears warm. She melted in the kiss, but the tears didn't subside.
Derek felt the moisture from her face flow onto his and he separated from her lips, resting his forehead on hers. "Why are you crying?" He whispered, wiping away the tears with his thumb.
"I can't do this with you, Derek. You hurt me; you don't know how much you hurt me." His arms that were around her waist moved to her shoulder blades, he was about to protest when he felt her shoulders roll and she slipped from his grasp. "Let's just go." He led her to his mustang and they got in, not another word was said between the two throughout the car ride.
"It was so cool; the car is so totally awesome!" Kaylie gushed to Casey as they waited for their waiter to come and take their orders. "Our car looks to be as good as a sponge-mobile compared to Sam's!" Casey laughed at her daughter's comparison.
"Well, sure; Sam's a pro-athlete and he lives in a penthouse and he makes great money…" Casey went on and Kaylie rolled her eyes, causing Derek to laugh. Casey looked at Kaylie and smiled. "Get the point?" Kaylie nodded and smiled back at her mother.
"Sure, Mommy." Kaylie said and handed the waiter her menu.
"Are you ready to order?" She asked nervously, glancing at Derek and Sam.
"Yup, I'll have the large t-bone steak with extra fires." He said, followed by a loud growl from his stomach.
"Geez, Sammy, tell that thing to quiet down." Derek muttered and Sam glanced down at his stomach.
"Sh…quiet down!" He said to it, causing Kaylie, Casey and the waitress to chuckle lightly.
"Can I have the chicken fingers and fries?" Kaylie asked and the waitress nodded.
"Sure, Sweetie." The waitress said, jotting it down.
"I'll have the same as Blondie over there, except extra-large, thanks." The waitress smiled and directed her attention to Casey.
"Oh, I'll have…um…" She glanced down at her menu nervously and Derek rolled his eyes.
"She'll have the grilled chicken breast with salad instead of fries." The waitress nodded and wrote it down.
"Anything else?" They shook their heads and the waitress left.
"That was rude." Casey muttered to Derek, who was sitting beside her.
"Oh please, what's rude is the fact you take forever and you order the same thing every time." He mumbled and rolled his eyes.
"How do you know that's what I was going to order? I could've-"
"Casey!" He whined, signaling her to shut up. "I don't care; you could have protested and changed your order! If you want, I'll buy you something else!" He said exasperatedly.
"It's fine; but that was still rude." She huffed, and one again, he rolled his eyes.
"Are they always like this?" Kaylie asked Sam as she watched the two adults bicker over nothing.
"Pretty much." He said with a shrug. Well, except for the time…
"Aw! Derek this is so sweet!" Casey gushed as Derek set down a blanket. Derek had blind-folded her since she got in the car; he drove from London to Scarborough and now here they were at some small club, sitting on a bank of grass, looking out into the glistening water of Lake Ontario. "The view is gorgeous." She said, staring into the still water.
"I think I like my view better." He whispered; his eyes fixated on Casey. Her head whirled around to him slowly and he peered into her eyes and leaned in, caressing her lips softly. He leaned over so she lay on her back and he hovered over her. In a matter of minutes, it got pretty heated and before they knew it, a few pieces of clothing were the only thing in between them.
"We can wait." He assured her. "I don't care if I have to wait until marriage to be with you." His eyes widened at the realization at what he said and he was quick to cover it up. "I mean, if we do get married. Not saying that we won't but, I mean, I don't know. We're young we aren't gonna get married now, I mean unless you want to, 'cause you know I love you, but why would you want to get married now, not saying that you don't, I mean-"
He was cut-off abruptly by her bra hitting his face, followed by her lips on his.
"You talk too much." She mumbled as he kissed down her neck and down her torso, stopping at the waistband of her underwear.
"Are you sure?" He asked worriedly. She looked into his eyes and nodded. "It'll hurt." He warned and she smiled softly.
"I'm ready." He took a deep breath and thrust into her.
Casey lay in Derek's arms and he played with her hair as they looked into each other's eyes.
"You're amazing." He whispered.
"I love you." She whispered back and he smiled; ever since they finished he had this goofy grin plastered onto his face, it made her laugh every once in a while. "But if you keep that grin on your face, George will find out what happened and he'll murder you." She chuckled lightly as he tried to stop grinning but failed miserably.
"I can't help it; you just gave me your virginity and you expect me to frown?" He asked.
"No; but if you want our parents to find out we're together, you best not be so forward about it.
"I can try, I make no promises though." He said, rubbing his nose against hers. "I love you." He whispered and they fell asleep, tangled limbs and all.
…he was grinning like an idiot for a week. Sam finished his thought as he brought his attention back to the table.
"You know what? Forget it." Casey finished and put up her hand as though to say 'stop'.
"Whatever." Derek rolled his eyes as the waitress came over with the food.
"Here you are." She gave them their orders and left.
"I need to use the washroom." Casey said bluntly to Derek.
"Uh-thanks for sharing?" He said, an eyebrow rose. She rolled her eyes.
"Well, why don't you let me through?" She said and he got up grudgingly.
"There you go, Princess." He said before sitting again; letting his eyes wander her retreating form before snapping back to reality.
"Hey, remember how you used to-" Sam began, a smirk planted firmly on his lips.
"Finish that sentence and die." Derek cut in, remembering what used to happen. Actually, thinking back, I think the idea sounds even more appealing…
"Derek, I need to use the washroom." Casey whined as Derek remained where he was seated.
"So? Like I said, if you really need to go, climb over me." He said, smirking and shrugging.
"Derek!" She scolded and he looked at her innocently.
"What?"
"That's ridiculous, just let me by, I promise I'll climb over you at home." She said, rolling her eyes.
"As appealing as that sounds, you still need to get out somehow." He said pointedly.
"Please…" She pouted and he looked away.
"I refuse to look at that pout, it's far too cute and you get anything you want with it, there's no way I'm caving." He said.
"D, let her by." Sam said as he watched Casey pout, trying to get Derek to look at her.
"Nuh-uh, you know you'd ask Emily to climb over you." He said pointedly and Emily rolled her eyes.
"No, I wouldn't. And she wouldn't climb over me anyways." He said pointedly back at Derek.
"Whatever, I'm not getting up, so if Casey needs to pee, she can simply climb over me." He explained, looking over to find that Casey was gone. "Whoa, where the hell did she go?"
"Hey, genius." Casey was standing next to the booth. "Next time, remember the fact I can crawl from underneath the table." She rolled her eyes as he glanced between her former seat and where she was standing now.
"But…" he smirked, "you still need to get back in." She groaned with realization and his smirk enlarged.
"You suck." She said, sitting on his lap then shifting over to where she sat.
"Ugh…teenagers don't know how to respect public places." An elderly woman muttered passing by, making Casey turn crimson. Derek looked at her and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Shut up!" She cried out to him. "That was so totally your fault!" She said, Sam and Emily glancing confusedly between the two.
"Oh no, I recall you saying 'I'm ready'; don't blame me for being a red-blooded teenage boy." He said and she groaned, resting her head in her hands.
…I think I'd rather have her climb me facing forwards though…Mm…Casey straddling me…Whoa! Snap back, no more thoughts like that; look her daughter is right there! He mentally yelled at himself.
"Yo, D, are you okay?" Sam asked, waving a hand in his face. "You zoned out for a minute there." Derek glared at him.
"You made me remember that stupid time at the restaurant." He grumbled and Sam smirked.
"What time at the restaurant?" Kaylie asked, sitting there looking lost in the matter.
"Oh-uh…nothing. It doesn't matter." Derek mumbled.
"Can I get you a refill?" The waitress asked and Kaylie nodded.
"Thank you." The waitress smiled at her.
"No problem; you've got such a well-mannered daughter." She directed at Derek and his eyes widened.
"Oh no, no. She's not my daughter, she's my niece, and actually she's not even-"
"Oh, sorry; you two just look alike…the hair is like an exact replica…" She said as she walked away, and for the first time, Derek really looked at Kaylie. Her hair, it was exactly like his…but everything else was Casey.
"Wow, it really is alike." Sam muttered. Kaylie shrugged.
"So? It's called a recessive gene. Or maybe my dad has this hair." She said and Sam hid a smirk.
"More than possible." He said and Derek just shook out of his stupor; the likeness between Kaylie and Casey was scary, if you couldn't tell those two were mother and daughter, you must've been blind.
"Um…Uncle Derek?" Kaylie asked sheepishly.
"Yeah?"
"I'm a really big fan…and I was wondering if maybe…you could, you know, play…hockey…with me?" She asked, growing deeper in a red shade, Derek smiled at her.
"Sure; tomorrow." She looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
"Really?"
"Really." She smiled largely, showing off her missing front tooth and thanked him over and over again.
From a distance, Casey watched.
"I can't tell you, you'd break her heart…" She whispered, tears stinging her eyes before returning to the table.
"I can't wait!" Kaylie cried out happily. "Uncle Derek said, not only will he play with me, he'll teach me new things and we're gonna spend the day together!" Casey watched her daughter with a sad smile.
"I'm glad you're going to have so much fun, now get your bag and put it by the door, this way when he gets here you'll be all ready." Kaylie nodded they headed down the stairs.
"This is going to be so cool!" She cried as she bounded slowly down to the living room. Casey remained in her old bedroom and felt a wave of emotion come over her…the times she and Derek spent here hit her hard.
"You can't know, you won't love her…you can't hurt her like you did me; I won't let that happen." She whispered before following Kaylie down the stairs.
"So…do you know how to play?" Derek asked as they laced up their skates.
"Pfft! Center forward, first string on my team. Best female player in the league." She smiled proudly. "In fact, I think I'm the best, some of the guys can't even come close!" She said confidently.
"Wow; I know you're proud of Case and everything…but she can't even skate!" He said, chuckling, Kaylie joined him.
"I know, she's hopelessly clumsy. Oh well." She shrugged and got onto the ice. "I really need some help on my slap shots!" She called over as he stood and walked over to the ice.
"Okay, we'll work on that." He said, handing her a hockey stick. "Alright…bend your knees a little more…okay, hand hear," he placed her left hand in the right place, "and the other hear," he placed her right in the proper place. "Gives you more power." She nodded and he put the puck down before her.
"Okay…I'll try." She wound up and hit the puck hard, sending it into the net in a flash.
"Woo! Go Kaylie!" Derek cheered, pumping his arms and circling her.
"Thank you, thank you." She took a couple of bows and the laughed.
"How 'bout a little goal practice, I promise I'll go easy on ya." He smirked and went into the net, she rolled her eyes, a smile planted on her lips and took a shot.
"Oh my God, Derek. I'm going to fall!" Casey cried out, hugging Derek's arm for balance.
"Casey…you won't fall; you're practically attached to my arm!" he said calmly back to her.
"Doesn't matter. You're going to let go, and I'm going to fall on my ass." She explained; her eyes fixated on the ice.
"Baby, I promise you won't fall." He said, taking his arm away slowly.
"You can't make that sort of promise, Derek! You don't know if I'll-whoa!" She screamed as she plopped onto the ice, her butt firmly placed down as her legs sprawled out in front of her. "…fall." She finished deadpanned. Derek started to burst out in laughter.
"Oh my God…that was hilarious!" He cried out in between his laughter. She pouted.
"It's not funny Derek; my butt hurts." She sat there and huffed, he rolled his eyes, his laughter subsiding slowly.
"Come on, Baby; stand up…the ice won't hurt you anymore." He said as though he were talking to a three year old instead of an eighteen year old.
"Sure, joke about it. We'll see who's laughing when you want a good make out session and I kiss your cheek." She said pointedly and he stopped immediately.
"Chick plays hardball." He muttered as he helped her up. "And just for that, we're going to my car and having a very hot make out session right now." He said to her as he dragged her along the ice.
"Fine; that's the only hockey I'll ever play…the tonsil kind." She said and he laughed.
"Fine by me."
"I don't care if you weren't even trying; the point is I scored three goals on hockey superstar Derek Venturi! I'm so going to brag about this!" Kaylie said as they headed for Derek's car.
"You're a pretty good player; I wasn't expecting it." Derek said honestly. "And truth be told, you scored one of those with my full potential at being a goalie…which isn't much but is still pretty darn awesome for you!" He said, and ran his fingers through her hair, messing it up.
"Whoa…I scored a goal on Derek Venturi…and he admitted he didn't let me do it!" She gushed then looked at him. "If you were the goalie for the Leafs then I'd feel sorry for them." She smirked as he looked at her in slight shock; then he saw it, and slight shock went to utter shock in a millisecond. He looked into a mirror image of his smirk. It was like a mini Casey with his hair and his smirk…and it was freaky as hell.
"Yeah, yeah, just don't go saying that to Sam…he'll tell the whole team." He shuddered with mock fright and she laughed.
"Thanks Uncle Derek; you didn't have to hang out with me…dragging a seven year old around and playing hockey with her probably wasn't anything on your list of want to do's." She smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Actually, it was number one." He ruffled her hair again and they drove away.
"Aw! Look how cute they are!" Kaylie gushed as she tapped on the glass of the dog pound. Derek smiled as he watched her.
"Wanna take a look?" She smiled largely and nodded. They walked through the door and she immediately fell in love with a golden Labrador puppy.
"Aw…look at this one!" She peered at it. Derek smiled as she watched joy overcome Kaylie's face.
"Excuse me, can we see this one?" he asked a clerk and he nodded.
"Sure- good Lord, you're Derek Venturi!" The clerk said as he turned around, Derek cringed.
"Yeah, I am, and I'd still like to see this dog." The clerk nodded happily.
"Sure, of course, just go into that room right there and I'll bring in the dog." Derek nodded and took Kaylie into the room.
"I don't know why I'm doing this; it'll only make it harder, I'll never be able to have a dog…" Kaylie said and Derek smiled sadly. Before he could say anything the clerk came in a put the dog on the floor.
"She's a Labrador; fully trained. She was being abused. Her name is Brownie." Derek stood and took the clerk into the corner and watched as Kaylie played happily on the floor with Brownie.
"Can we put that dog on hold?"
"We don't usually-"
"I'll pay you. Triple than that dog is worth." The clerk smiled.
"Of course we can hold it for you; but only until tomorrow…my manager won't be happy if she finds out." He grumbled. "Just be back tomorrow morning to claim it or I put it back on legibility." Derek nodded and the clerk left.
"She's so friendly! Why would somebody abuse her?" Kaylie asked as she picked up Brownie and walked over to Derek.
"I don't know;" he scratched the dog behind its ears and smiled. "But we best be going." Kaylie nodded and gave Brownie back to the clerk before leaving.
"We're going to that little Italian restaurant…you know the one you used to meet all your dates at?" Nora said as they drove off; Casey gulped. No, that wouldn't be an emotional overload…
She only spent almost every night there with Derek!
"Okay." That was all she could say without blurting, "hell no! I had the most amazing memories in that place with the man I still love and who is playing mind games with me!" Good thing she didn't do that…
"Mommy, Uncle Derek took me all over the place, but the best part was when we went to the dog pound and there was this little golden Labrador named Brownie, it was so cute! I wish we could get a dog." She said excitedly until the end when she turned slightly sad.
"Well, why can't you?" Derek asked.
"We can't, Derek." Casey protested.
"Why not, I asked. You've no reason to say no to her, just get the girl a dog!" Derek argued.
"The apartment doesn't allow pets." Casey stated, the rest of the family just watching. Derek rolled his eyes.
"It's okay Kaylie; you can keep him at my place." He winked and she smiled.
"Derek, you live in a penthouse! You seriously think the hotel will let you keep a dog there?!"
"Please! All I've got to do is pay 'em! Plus, my penthouse is probably bigger than your apartment anyways!" The table fell silent and Casey's eyes burned with tears. "Case, I'm so-"
"No. You know what Derek? You're right. Your penthouse probably is bigger than my apartment. But you know what else? You aren't a single mother, raising a daughter without child support. You don't what the hell my life is like, okay? So when you have to work three jobs to make ends meet and you still have an okay place to live in and raise your daughter, then you can come bragging to me about how where you live is bigger than where I live!" Casey shouted, drawing attention to the table as she noisily got up and left.
"Casey!" Derek stood and called out to her but she kept walking, wiping away at her eyes incessantly. "Casey stop!" He ran after her and she picked up her speed. They were walking down the street now and Derek was glancing around, praying the paparazzi wouldn't swarm just now. "Casey wait! I'm sorry!" She stopped abruptly and turned to face his.
"Sorry. That's what you have to say?" She laughed bitterly. "That's what you said seven years ago when you dumped me because you were unhappy due to the fact you thought your father was disappointed in you."
"I-"
"So I have one thing to tell you, Venturi. Get bent!" She screeched and walked away again. Derek walked after her and grabbed her wrist, making her turn around, but just as he was about to speak light bulbs flashed all around.
"There he is!" One cried out.
"Derek Venturi, who is your new friend?" One asked, Derek realized her wrist wasn't in his hand anymore and he glanced around, desperately searching for her.
"Thanks, Sam." A muffled voice came and Derek whipped around, finding the noise came from somewhere behind a dumpster. He pushed through the paparazzi and found Casey.
"Case…I didn't-"
"Bring Kaylie home, will you?" She cut him off and he nodded. "Thank you." She said bitterly before walking off, completely brushing off the cameras.
"Mr. Venturi! Derek Venturi! Venturi!" Different reporters called out.
"Who is she- your new- love her- mystery girl- her name- how did you- who's Kaylie- you live together- where do you- is she your- daughter?" One person's loud question only came out in the end and Derek shook his head, clearing his mind.
"Daughter?" He whispered to himself. He seemed to be getting too much of that lately.
"Good night, Uncle Derek." Kaylie said sleepily as he tucked her in.
"Night Kay." He took one last look into her eyes before she fell asleep. Looking into those eyes, they seemed so familiar. To close for comfort, familiar, he didn't like it; he didn't like staring into the eyes of a teenage runaway, his teenage runaway. Hit with déjà vu like a bright yellow school bus by looking into those eyes, he felt nauseous. He needed to get away.
"I'm seeing things." He whispered to himself as he stood, but it seemed everywhere he looked he saw those eyes; those bright blue eyes that haunted him, but now; it was being taken to a whole new level of haunt. He lay in his bed, willing those eyes to leave his mind…and to his dismay; they did, leaving a whole new, and even more dreadful, memory.
"It's not important." He left and closed the door behind him then leaned against it. His mind burned with the image of her eyes, glowing softly in the moonlight. There was a look in those eyes, he didn't like that look. He'd seen it before somewhere.
Oh yes, his mother. It was a look of…something. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. He didn't like that, not one bit. He loved Casey, he really did…he knew in the back of his mind he'd regret doing that, but right now he couldn't think about it.
At the moment it didn't register that in the morning, the only thing he'd want to do was go into her room and kiss her senselessly, telling her he was an idiot and he didn't mean anything he'd said to her the night before…it didn't register he'd never see her the same way again.
"I don't think I can stay here for much longer, but I don't want to leave before George's birthday…" Casey said to Sam over the phone.
"Why don't you and Kay spend the rest of the week here?" Sam offered, "And before you protest, I won't take no as an answer, I've got plenty of room and I want to help."
"Sam, you've already done so much; I couldn't-"
"I'll come get your things tomorrow afternoon." Case sighed.
"Thank you Sam, thank you so much; you're a great friend." She could tell he was smiling.
"No problem Case. Bye."
"Bye." She hung up and laid in her bed. "He'll reject her; I know he will; what's stopping him from the same excuse as before? He'll never know." She whispered before falling asleep.
"So…you went through your whole pregnancy alone?" Sarah, the girl who lived next-door and often babysat Kaylie asked she also had a child; a son named Nathaniel. The difference was, she got child support, she was eighteen and at this time, Casey was twenty and Kaylie was two.
"Yeah; I know Nathaniel's father didn't really care, but you're lucky you still the some help. Guys are assholes." Casey muttered.
"So…was it a one-night stand sort of thing?" Sarah asked, as she burped a six month old, Nathaniel.
"No. I…we were in love." And one of still is… Casey thought bitterly. Sarah was like a best friend to Casey, aside from Sam that was.
"What-"
"I'm here! What's the problem?" Sam said, bursting through the door. Casey chuckled lightly as his appearance; his hair was all over the place and he was sweaty, his shirt on backwards.
"Sorry, were you at practice?" Casey asked and he gave her a 'duh' look.
"No, I'm sweaty and gross because I was at a spa." He said sarcastically.
"Well…" Casey said and Sarah looked confusedly at Sam.
"Don't you play for the Centennial College team? Why are you here?" She asked.
"Oh! Sarah, this is Sam; Sam, this is Sarah." She smiled and Sam shook Sarah's hand, to which she shook then rubbed off on her jeans.
"Sorry; Derek's a jackass." He muttered and Casey eyed oddly.
"Why?"
"Stupid kid runs me into the boards every time he gets the chance…why'd he have to be captain?" he asked himself. "He makes practice ten times harder for me…stupid jackass." He muttered the last part and Casey laughed lightly.
"Yeah; I know…so, to why you're here…" She began slowly and Sam nodded.
"You gonna tell me or what?" He asked and she nodded.
"I…well…I sort of, kind of…can't make rent." She bit her lip and tried to hide her embarrassment. "And I really wouldn't ask, but the landlord said it's either he gets it by two or I'm out…I can't go home because of Kay…and I can't go to Sarah's because she's got no room…" She trailed.
"What about Derek?" She raised an eyebrow at him and he hit his forehead while nodding. "Right; stupid, stupid, Sam." He dug through his wallet and looked up at her. "How much do you need?" She put up her hands.
"No, no. I'm not taking any money from you, Sam. I was wondering if…I and Kay could spend some time at your place…just until we find somewhere else." Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment.
"Tell you what; I'll talk to your landlord, if nothing can be done then you come with me, okay?" He asked and she nodded quickly, jumping up and hugging him.
"Thank you, thank you, and thank you!" He laughed and they pulled away.
"No problem." Sam left down the stairs and found Casey's landlord. "Hey, I'm a friend of Ms. McDonald upstairs…I was wondering if she could get an extension on that rent of hers." The plump man shook his head firmly.
"No can do; I've already given her a few extensions; that girl of hers is cute, but I can't do anything more."
"Fine…how much does she owe?" Sam asked.
"She paid half…I need four-fifty more." He said.
"Done." Sam gave him a check and the landlord took off Casey's dept. One the man was gone Sam let out a long breath…Casey would kill him, bring him back to life and hug him until she suffocated him when she found out what he'd done.
"But why?" Kaylie asked.
"I'll tell you after, okay Babe?" Casey explained quietly and Kaylie nodded. "Thank you; now get all your stuff ready." Kaylie nodded and Casey kissed her forehead before leaving the room. Casey heard the front door open and shut and saw Derek coming up the stairs quickly.
"Hey…you're leaving?" He asked confusedly. She nodded, avoiding his eyes. "Why?" His eyebrows were knit together and she looked up at him.
"Because." She answered simply and walked into her old room, only to find Derek had followed her in and closed the door behind him.
"That's not an answer." He said, turning her to face him. "Answer me." He said softly.
"I did." She said stubbornly and tried to get out of his grasp, she continued to rant but he tuned her out and stared as her lips moved with her silenced words. His pent up desire for her built to be larger and he shoved her up against a wall, thrusting his lips to hers. His kisses became fervent and he kept her arms against the wall.
His lips worked against her unresponsive ones, she stared wide-eyed in shock, tears building up as his passion grew and he pulled her away from the wall and onto her bed. Her eyes seemed to widen more as his lips left hers and went down her neck; she squirmed from beneath him, trying to get out. He put a knee in between her legs and forcefully separated them. She stared with shock before it registered what he was doing. The tears spilled over.
"Derek…Derek stop! Please!" She wept but he continued as her tears kept falling. "Please, Derek! Stop!" She whimpered as the bulge in his pants grew and she felt it. One of his hands worked the buttons of her shirt while the other gripped her belt, pulling at it. There was a knock at the front door but neither of them heard it. He had her shirt half way undone and she tried harder to push him away.
"Derek, please…please stop!" She sobbed but he paid no attention. His hand left the half undone shirt and went to her belt along with the other one. He almost had it done when the door opened.
"Mommy?" Kaylie asked and Derek got off her with wide eyes, staring as Casey got up and ran to her bags, picked them up then shuffled Kaylie down the stairs while buttoning her shirt. Derek sat in the room, staring down at the spot on the bed where he was about to rape Casey.
"Shit." He grumbled, burying his head in his hands and letting tears fall as he sat in self disgust.
She ran straight into Sam who caught her before she fell backwards. He looked at her with confusion written on his face; her face was tear stained, fear was evident in her eyes and her clothes, along with her hair, were disheveled. A few buttons on her shirt were missing and her belt was half undone.
"What…" He didn't get to finish his sentence because she ran out the door, Kaylie right on her tail, with her bags and into his car. He looked away from her form and saw Derek standing on the steps, a look of regret and worry in his features. "…happened?" He finished quietly.
"She…and I…oh my God…I almost…shit!" He screamed out in aggravation. Sam's eyes wanderer back to his to his car, where he saw Casey in the front seat, trying not to cry in front of Kaylie. "I'm so, so, sorry…" Derek muttered and Sam walked out the door to his car. He sat in the driver's seat and looked at her.
"Are you okay? What happened?" He asked and she looked away from the window and to Kaylie through the mirror then shook her head and averted her eyes back to the window.
"Later." She whispered so quietly he barely heard.
"Okay…" He said then drove off.
"I'm gonna rape you." He said as he crawled over her, she laughed as he picked up the hem of her shirt with his teeth. "I'm gonna make you strip." He said, his voice muffled as he kissed her neck and shoulder. "I'm gonna rape you." He whispered huskily into her ear, making her giggle.
"When?" She asked, feigning fright.
"Soon…" He answered, blowing in her ear softly.
"Mm…but isn't it only rape if it's against the person's will? Don't you have to be all mean and rough?" She asked breathily and he nodded.
"You'll pretend…pretend you're being raped by me…then I'm gonna be really rough…" He growled and she continued to laugh.
"So you're gonna rape me?" He nodded. "Well, I'm wanna rape you." She whispered sexily, causing his head to snap up, in time to see her lick her lips. He rolled over, putting her lying on top of him and she straddled him. "Not only do I wanna rape you…but I'm gonna rape you. Right…now." She whispered then bit on his earlobe, making him groan loudly.
"Oh God!" He groaned out, making Casey smirk.
"Mm…I gonna be mean," she bit down on collarbone and he moaned, "and rough." She rubbed her lower body against his until she felt him harden beneath her. "Then I'm gonna leave you, making you want to rape me…" She whispered then got off him and sauntered out of his bedroom.
"Holy shit…that was hot." Derek whispered to himself.
Neither of them ever thought the day would come that Derek would actually try to do what he had said.
"He really tried to rape you?" Sam asked quietly as the two of them sat on the sofa of the penthouse he lived in. She nodded, tears flowing freely.
"I was so scared, Sam…I begged for him to stop…but he just kept going." He hugged her tightly as she cried harder.
"You know…you at least need to tell Kay who her father is…" Casey nodded.
"She's so confused…she-she asked me I was crying…and I told her that I'd tell her later." Sam sighed.
"Maybe later should be now?" He asked her.
"You're right…she deserves to know; she a great kid." Sam detached from Casey and she shuffled over to the room Kaylie was in. She knocked softly and Kaylie looked up from a book that was in her hands.
"Hey Mommy." She said softly, smiling at Casey, who couldn't help but smile back softly.
"Hey…listen; you know how I never told you about your dad?" Kaylie nodded, "if I tell you now; you promise you won't say anything about it to him?" Kaylie nodded again. "First off…no more calling Derek 'Uncle Derek', okay?"
"Why?" Kaylie asked.
"I'll explain that soon. First off;… he did something really bad to Mommy, okay?" Kaylie nodded.
"What did he do?" Casey sighed deeply and looked into the eyes of her daughter.
"When you walked in…you saw Derek on top of Mommy, right?" Kaylie nodded, knowing this was bad because her mother never referred to herself as 'Mommy' unless it was so. "Well…he was trying to…force Mommy into something somebody shouldn't do unless they want to." Kaylie nodded in understanding.
"Okay."
"Another reason is…Derek isn't your uncle Sweetie."
"I know, you guys are only step-siblings."
"No…that's not what I meant." She looked into Kaylie's eyes, seeing all her confusion. "Derek's your father, Kay."
Derek went back into Casey's old room, seeing something she left behind on the desk. Avoiding any glances towards the bed he looked down at the papers. Birth certificate.
Kaylie's birth certificate.
He read through it quickly and his eyes bugged at the information his eyes feasted on.
Father of child: Venturi, Derek
Father signature: (blank)
Name of child: Kaylie Emma Venturi
"Kaylie…is mine?" He asked himself, staring at the paper, wide-eyed.
"Um…this space with the father's signature…" Casey trailed and the woman looked at her sympathetically.
"Don't worry 'bout it, Sweetheart. It's either he can sign it or not." She said with a thick southern accent. "I understand, just leave it blank." She said, waving a hand. Casey smiled at her.
"Thank you…" She glanced at her name tag, "Lila." With that she left, her newborn daughter wrapped in a bundle with her. "Hey, baby girl…I know it'll be hard without a daddy…but we'll make it; I swear." She said softly as she walked away. But back at the desk, Lila watched her go; tears in her eyes.
"I tell ya'll; too many young'uns out there turning up like that'un. Too many jack-holes out there, deceiving poor little ladies. I tell ya'll; that boy out there with a daughter walkin' 'round and he ain't got a single clue deserves nothing more than a dang whoopin'." Lila said to herself, watching Casey walk away. "Poor little lady…"
"But…" Kaylie looked at her mother in awe. "I…he is?" Her eyes glinted with tiny hints of hope.
"Yeah, Baby, he is." Kaylie jumped into her mother's arms and hugged her tightly.
"I love him, Mommy." Kaylie whispered. "Why can't we tell him?" She asked and Casey's eyes stung with tears.
"Because, Baby…I just can't trust him with something as precious as your heart." Casey explained. "He hurt me too many times, Kay. And I know you love him…but I can't risk that." A tear rolled down her cheek slowly and Kaylie wiped it away.
"It's okay, Mommy…don't cry." She embraced her mother tightly again and they stayed in the embrace for a while.
"He said sorry, you know. And the first thing that morning when you weren't there? He really took it hard." Sam's voice said quietly from the doorway. "He was a wreck."
Derek woke up, the glazed image of Casey's eyes still fresh in his mind. He tore his sheets off and sat up in his bed, his hands placed firmly on his temple.
"What the hell did I do?" He asked himself harshly. He hung his head in his hands and let out a frustrated yell. "Why the hell would I do that?!" He whispered harshly, tugging on his hair painfully as he ran his fingers through it. He stood up and headed to her room, his mind racing with millions of words stumbling together into babbling nonsense.
"Case-…what?" He asked, knowing he wouldn't be getting an answer as he stared into her empty room. Lizzie was sitting on the floor, a shoebox in her lap. She looked up at him with wide eyes and hurriedly picked up the box and ran out of the room.
"Bye." She muttered quickly as she rushed by him, holding the box protectively to her chest. He peered around, searching for some sign of her presence. Knowing that his eyes burning from looking so closely at every crevice of the room. He sat on the foot of the bed; remembering the times he spent there; just talking to her. Or watching her sleep.
"Bye?" he asked; not to himself, but the emptiness in the room. It almost made him break down into sobs just realizing there was nobody to answer.
And there probably never would be; all because he did something incredibly idiotic.
The next day he was dropped off at the college by his parents and family. Normal goodbyes were said and Nora cried. The only thing that stuck out was Lizzie's goodbye when she hugged him.
"Nothing will ever be the same; and it's your fault." She said in between sniffles. Somehow, he knew only few of those tears were for him.
And he couldn't help but feel empty as the goodbyes were said; he couldn't help but feel his question was being answered…
For someone else.
"He was messed up for weeks after that point." He said, looking as though he was in a distant place.
"Lizzie said that?" Casey asked; utterly confused. He nodded, looking her in the eyes.
"Yeah; I remember it to the word. Derek repeated it over and over like your name." He said; Casey felt dizzy.
"But…but that means…she knows." Casey whispered. She kissed Kaylie's forehead and quietly asked Sam to tuck her into her bed. Grabbing her cell phone off the kitchen countertop, she ran onto the deck and dialed the number quickly.
"Hello?" Lizzie's voice came over the phone, she sounded out of breath.
"Liz…did I catch you at a bad…or good…time?" Casey muttered, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Um…no?" She asked and practically heard Casey roll her eyes.
"Listen…I really need to see you; can I meet you at Mom and George's?" Casey asked.
"Yup. See you soon." Lizzie hung up and Casey grabbed her jacket in time to see Sam walk out pf the room with Kaylie in his arms.
"She wants to be in your room; she said she doesn't want to sleep alone." He whispered and she nodded.
"Thanks a million, Sam. You really are a great friend." He smiled and motioned for her to go. She waved and kissed Kaylie on the forehead one last time before leaving.
"Hey Casey." Lizzie greeted and Casey pushed past her and into her old room where Lizzie followed her. "Um…is something wrong?" She asked confusedly.
"Yeah…there is." Casey said blankly. "Or not. I don't know; depending on how big your mouth is." Casey looked up at her with worried eyes.
"Um…I-I think that's more of a question for Edwin…" She said, chuckling nervously but froze at Casey's stone face. "Case? What're you looking at?" Casey's eyes were fixed on her desk where papers lay, a neat pile on the desk.
"Oh my God…I'm an idiot." Casey muttered, standing up and grabbing the papers off the desk; looking at them furiously.
"Would you rather have a daughter or son first?" Casey asked randomly as they sat looking over the cityscape from a cliff.
"Daughter." Derek asked without hesitation.
"Why?" She asked, softly laying her head back against to look into his eyes.
"I don't know." He said with a low chuckle. "Why are we on this topic?" He asked, more laughter in his words.
"I don't know. You wanna know something though?" She asked, averting her eyes back to the cityscape.
"Sure." He asked; his arms around her waist protectively.
"Your lap may be the most comfortable place in the world." She said as she wiggled a little from her place on his lap. He laughed quietly.
"Baby that has got to be the most random thing you've ever said to me." He said, shaking his head. She shook her head back firmly in a protest.
"Not true. The most random thing I've ever said to you was 'I love you'." She said and he feigned shock.
"Are you, Casey McDonald, saying you only said you love me because you were being even more spastic than your usual spaz-of-a-self?" He asked and she hit his chest, situating herself on his lap to face him.
"I am not a-mm!" She was cut off by his lips crashing onto hers. He kissed her repeatedly and she got out words little by little. "Not." Kiss. "A." Kiss. "Spaz!" He kept her in a deep kiss as the last breathy words left her lips.
A/N: Hehehe! You wanna know what happens? Well; than you gotta review. It's a twoshot. I might continue it…not soon though, I've got WAY too much going on at once. REVIEW PLEASE!!