There is no denying it.
We could all see it. Every single one of us.
It was a crazy concept, them together, but somehow, someway, it fit. Just like we all knew it eventually would.
&&&
It used to make me sick to see them together.
They would bicker and he knew how to get under her skin, cold sentences always involving the word keener or bitch. That smirk of his (it won out on everyone) paled in comparison next to her icy smile. And she was good at it, smart enough to volley back and forth with him, something no one else could do.
I would look upon them, tell myself that it was normal, they are brother and sister, after all; siblings fight. But I could feel it, the air, and it was loaded, filled with a secret language that I could never understand. So I watched, and while I still had a thing for Derek, it faded into oblivion as time passed, melted into the background of my mind (I never stood a chance anyway.)
It became clear about four months into my friendship with Casey. Derek Venturi was a changed man, and while no one else noticed, I had always payed him special attention, and the changes were blatantly obvious to me. Casey was something different, a new breed of girl, and need I say more?
DerekandCasey.
I accepted the information, locked it away, deep inside, covered it with denial, and if someone had asked me what I thought about them...
I would have lied.
---
"He's just so... infuriating!"
I roll my eyes, Casey continues to rant.
"I mean, where is the joy in torturing me? I don't understand..."
It's Friday night, Casey fought with Derek over something stupid (I've long since learned to block out the details. I know what's going on and the less time I spend thinking about it, the easier it is to play dumb) and now she's relaying the information on to me. She sits on her bed, text books scattered around her, her eyes angry (he'll find a way to apoligize later and I'll pretend not to notice how bright her smile is.)
I hear the front door shut, it's too early on a Friday night for Derek to roll in, but Casey looks at her door anyway, listening for him on the stairs. There's no noise to be heard and she turns her eyes back to her books. I stare at her for a moment, wondering when (or if) she'll catch on. It's hard being the only one in on the secret.
"I just wish he would grow up, I mean, we're seniors for God's sake! It was different when we were fifteen..."
Blah, blah, blah... Derek should be more mature, Derek should respect other people's things, Derek should... whatever. She talks more and I try focus my attention on the task at hand: finishing this long-ass book for English. Her words distract me too much, so I lay the book down, grab a favorite I've brought along. I've already read it like six times, it's not something I have to concentrate too hard on, but it will keep me from listening to her analyze Derek's behavior, thus making me think on the subject more than I already do. I crack open my worn copy of Eclipse (okay, I'll admit it, I'm a Twilight fanatic. I carry one of them everywhere, more so since I've discovered the connection between them. I'd rather lose myself in a world full of vampires and werewolves than a world full of Casey and Derek) and begin to read.
---
Derek comes home at about one-thirty that night. Casey thinks I'm asleep and when he knocks on her door, she looks over once more at me, then slips out of the bed. I smile to myself, thinking please let something happen, let him kiss her or just... God, something. She leaves the door open behind her, and I can hear him say Look, I just wanted to... you know, apoligize - for earlier. I can't see them, but I can imagine the way they look. She probably has her arms folded tight over her chest, and he's probably looking really sincere. She doesn't say anything and he sighs, says Oh come on, Casey. You know I didn't mean it. Just... forgive me, okay?
I can almost feel her resolve fading and right now I know she's looking into his eyes, probably drifting into a slow grin. Okay, she says, you're forgiven. I know he's smiling too now, and I can imagine the way his mouth opens and closes, opens and closes, trying to find the words that will explain how he really feels. I can hear him swallow, then he says Goodnight, Case and she comes back into the room, closes the door with a soft click.
She slips back into bed, sighs softly, and I pretend to be asleep (pretend that I don't know anything.)
---
Author Note:
I know I have so many things to finish, and here I am, starting something else. But, hey, I got inspired. So should I continue? Or just not? I guess this is like a preview or something? I don't really know. HELP ME OUT.