To Charlottetown
Chapter 1/Prologue: London

Summer break has finally come, and Nora and George are excited about their well-planned road trip to Charlottetown, P.E.I. Who knew how many adventures could spurt from one trip, and what they would bring? Dasey.

A/N: I'm really excited about this new chapter story. It all started off as my friend, Debs, daring me to "do that popular idea and send 'em on a road trip," as she so eloquently put. But this one will not be a, "they drove around for a bit and stopped here and did this." I'm going to actually go through some cities, with each city having an individual "adventure" that reels Dasey in closer to us. Since I've been to half the cities I'm planning on writing about, it shouldn't be that hard, right?

Lots of research went into this. Yes, even Canadians don't know much about their own country's "travelling distances" and such if they've never been. I'll try my hardest, and as I've already said, I put a lot of research into this.


"To where?" Derek squawked, leaning forward with his mouth hanging open. Really, his incredulous look was almost identical to the other kids sitting squeezed together on the couch. Casey sat on the arm of the couch, with Derek beside her. Marti sat on his lap, looking completely oblivious to the whole conversation, with Edwin at his side and Lizzie at the very end.

"Charlottetown," Nora said with a slight smile still plastered on her face. George smirked and put an arm around his wife proudly.

"Where?" Edwin asked, leaning forward to stare at Nora as if she were an insignificant bug under a microscope. Casey sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Charlottetown, you know Prince Edward Island's capital?" she said.

"Prince who?" Edwin asked, peering past Lizzie to stare at Casey.

"Ed's not very good at geography," George said, waving his son off quickly. "But what do the rest of you think?"

Casey's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. What did she think? She thought this was a horrible idea. She thought being cramped with her family for almost three days until they got to Charlottetown was horrible. And, most of all, being confined to a space no bigger than a bathroom with Derek was the worst. She knew without a doubt he and Ed would be passing – Casey interrupted the thought with a shiver as she zoned back into the conversation.

"Ralph and I were planning on spending all summer at the beaches." The cocky smirk on his face was enough to warn Casey he'd be 'babe watching' or whatever he called it. "But really," Derek continued, settling back against the couch, "The rest of you can go ahead. I'll sacrifice myself a house-sit."

George laughed mockingly, causing Derek to frown deeply. "No way are we leaving you alone with an empty house for almost two months."

"Wait – all of summer break?" Casey interrupted, her lips parting quickly over and over again as if she couldn't quite find the right words to say.

"What's the matter? Is Space-Case going to miss out on studying?" Derek mocked, perking his bottom lip out as he gave her a mock-pitying look.

Casey flicked the side of his head, growling disgustingly at him.

"This was a bad idea…" Nora began. Casey's eyes shot up to try and meet her mother's, but Nora was too busy looking at the floor. Even Casey could tell she was more then a little disappointed her family didn't cherish the idea of a road trip.

"N-no, I think it's a great idea," Casey interjected, sitting up a little straighter as she plastered a fake smile on. Nora peered up at her daughter and smiled timidly at her.

"Thanks Sweetie," she said lightly.

"And I think it's great, too," Edwin chirped in.

"You do?" Derek, Casey and Lizzie both said at the same time. Edwin looked around carefully.

"Yeah, you see, I've got this new pitch, and if I can reach out to buyers all over –,"

"Ed, shut-up," Derek said briskly without meeting his brother's gaze. Edwin's lips shut immediately as peered back at George and Nora.

"And I want to go, too," Lizzie added, "It'll be nice to have a little break from London. And since we don't have enough money to travel to Hawaii or anything, I guess a road trip is cool."

Marti jumped out of Derek's lap and swung her arms up in the air.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," she said with a fake British accent. She paused and met everyone's cautious gaze. "We're going on an adventure!" she hollered. George bent down to pick Marti with a tight look on his face while Derek made a doubting noise in the back of his throat.

Casey looked down at her stepbrother. In all honesty, she wanted to join in on his doubt. Have an adventure? Yeah right. The closest thing to thrill they'd face on this trip would probably be trying to survive the Venturi's boys constant bodily functions poisoning the air.

Nora and George now faced Derek head on. Casey knew the look in their eyes. Whether or not Derek wanted to, he was going. She glanced at him and saw him suck in a deep, dreading breath.

"Okay," he muttered. Nora smiled broadly and clasped her hands together tightly as she bounced slightly. George smiled at her youth-like antics and planted a kiss on her temple. Casey and Derek both look away, disgusted, and met each other's look.

A shiver fell down Casey's spine as she mirrored his expression with the one on her face. She wanted to break the uncomfortable eye contact, but found she couldn't until Nora started talking again.

"Well, you all better start packing. We've decided to leave tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" Casey interjected. That hardly left enough time to plan, pack and say goodbye to Emily. Nora gave her daughter a pitying look, slumping her shoulders slightly.

"I know honey, but if we want to get back on time for back-to-school shopping and have enough time to do everything we planned for P.E.I., we have to leave soon." Casey nodded her understanding as she slipped off the couch and headed off to her room to pack.


"Jesus Ed, what'd you stuff in there, a body?" This was the sounds Casey awoke to, and immediately the hectic aura of the house had robbed her of her grogginess. She ripped the covers off her body and hurriedly changed into jean capris and a fancy red shirt with a black belt tied around her waist loosely. She shoved her pyjamas into her suitcase, than hauled it out into the hallway.

She successfully managed to get her suitcase to the door without incident before she was swooped into a huge hug by Nora. She planted a giant kiss on Casey's temple, and the teenager could practically feel Nora's excitement radiating off her.

"Isn't this exciting, honey?" Nora exclaimed, pulling her daughter out an arms-length away. "It's like the time we went to Niagara Falls. Remember how you –,"

"Mom!" Casey laughed. "Don't remind me about that trip. It still gives me nightmares." Casey shivered as the memories of her vomiting into a trashcan after the long drive to Niagara Falls. Sickness had claimed Casey for most of their 3-day trip, and why Nora thought that trip had been 'exciting' was a loss for Casey.

"But you know, sweetheart," Nora said, leaning in close to her daughter, "This trip is going to be double the 'fun' with brothers like –."

"Derek Venturi is in the house!" Derek exclaimed as he plodded down the stairs, tossing his backpack over the banister so it landed in the huge pile of other suitcases. Casey rolled her eyes.

"Stepbrothers, Mom. And you sure we can call it 'fun'?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just try and enjoy yourself, Case." Nora's lips tightened as she pulled away from her daughter to help George pack their bags into their rented mini van. As soon as her mother left her side, Derek's arm swung around her shoulders.

"So, space-Case, you ready to spend two months worth of 'family time' with your darling stepbrother?"

Casey shrugged out of his touch and gave him a peculiar look.

"Really, you think I want to spend time with you?" Casey snapped back. Derek held up his hands defensively.

"It's not my fault. Nora and George don't seem to realize that..."

"… Forcing us to spend time together won't help us like each other," Casey finished, nodding her head. She paused, and from the corner of her eye she could see that Derek's body went rigid.

Casey's eyes flashed to meet his, and she twisted her lips in dislike. "That whole 'I just finished your sentence' thing? It never happened."

Derek nodded his head in agreement as Edwin stomped down the stairs, clutching a stuffed teddy bear to his chest.

"Dad! Dad! Ted won't fit in my suit case! Dad!" he hollered, gesturing wildly to the bear in his arms. George's head popped up from around the corner of the doorway, and he stared at Edwin intently.

"So?"

"Dad! I have to bring Ted! He's my companion, my friend. You know he'll get lonely, and I just can't bring myself to leave him here all by himself."

Derek started laughing, and even Casey couldn't help but let out a quiet, girlish chuckle.

Edwin fixed Derek with a glare, crossing his arms quickly. "What are you laughing at?" he asked, cocking a brow, "We all know you have your stuffed duck tucked away."

Casey observed how Derek's body jolted forward, as if wanted to chase Edwin to pulverize him, but decided against it at the last minute.

"I don't own a stuffed duck," Derek replied, curling his lips in disgust.

"Yeah, you do. What's his name now? Quacky? Quacker? Oh, no, wait, it was Cracker, right?" Derek lost his self control and bolted forward, chasing Edwin outside as threats and insults poured from his mouth.

Casey laughed quietly as Nora entered the house with George tucked in by her side. She smiled and brushed her hands together.

"We're all ready to go!" she exclaimed happily. Derek and Edwin reappeared in the doorway while Lizzie and Marti joined the family from the kitchen.

"Alright: seating plans," George said excitedly.

"George and I will take turns driving, so we'll be up front. Behind us will be Lizzie and Casey, and in the back will be Marti, Ed and Derek. Any complaints?" Nora asked.

Casey let out a sigh of relief. For a fleeting moment, she thought she'd had to sit next to Derek. Thank God her parents were so understanding and let her sit next to Lizzie.

One thing passed through Casey's head as the Venturis and McDonalds shuffled out of the doorway: Emily.

"I'll be right back," she whispered to Nora, before she jogged across the lawn and over to the Davis'. She knocked hurriedly, and it was a long moment before Emily answered.

"Hey Casey! I didn't think we were hanging out today. Are we?" Emily peered at Casey hurriedly, her eyes wide and far away in thought.

"No, don't worry Em. But… I've got bad news."

"Oh no."

"Yeah, my family and I are going on vacation. With the Venturis," Casey added. It may seem a little rude, but she still didn't quite feel like the Venturis were her family. They were just… people she lived happily with, with the exception of one.

"What? Where?" The twinkle in Emily's eyes proved she was excited for her friend.

"Charlottetown." Emily paused, squinting her eyes at Casey as if she were retarded.

"Where?"

"Charlottetown! It's in Prince Edward Island," Casey added. A car honked in the distance, but both girls hardly acknowledged this as they continued with their conversation.

"P.E.I.," Emily said slowly, perking a brow, "as in Canada's P.E.I.?"

"Yup," Casey said quickly. Emily frowned, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed.

"Ah, well… I guess this is it, then. When are you coming back?"

Casey let out a deep breath as she said, "August."

The car honked again and Emily sighed frustratingly. As Casey gestured slightly to the awaiting car, Emily nodded her head slowly in understanding.

"Well, I'll see you then," Emily mumbled as they hugged.

"I'll miss you, Em."

"I'll miss you, too. And hey, you might actually have fun," Emily added, smiling as they pulled away. Casey snorted and rolled her eyes at her friend's words.

"I might've actually believed you, if Derek was left behind." The car honked again, and the girls' hugged once more before Casey trudged back across the lawn and got into her seat next to Lizzie.

"What were you doing back there? Writing a book on how to say 'goodbye'?" Derek huffed. Unfortunately for Casey, Derek's spot in the car was directly behind her. He reached out and tugged a strand of her hair and she sighed deeply in annoyance.

"Unlike you, Derek, I actually cherish my relationships," Casey huffed.

"Oh, and I don't? You just think I don't because I don't 'cherish' the small, small one we have."

Casey gasped mockingly, twisting in her seat to face Derek. "I didn't even know we had one! It must be that small and insignificant I never realized it was there."

Derek leaned toward her and perked an eyebrow.

"When did you get so sassy?" he asked.

"About the same time I realized you were an a—."

"Casey!" Nora yelled.

"Derek," George huffed, glancing in the review mirror at the two teens. "Can we please go five minutes without a fight? Please?" he asked. Casey felt like pitying him, as his voice was already strained. She wanted to apologize when she felt Derek tug on her hair again.

She inwardly groaned and crossed her arms.

Yes, it was going to be a horribly long road trip, and to tell the truth, Casey was not looking forward to it at all.


Author's Notes


I'm not at all happy how this first chapter turned out. It's rushed, it's OOC… Meh, I think I'll go back and fix it when I feel comfortable with the flow of the story. Hope you enjoyed! And don't forget to review. Because…

-pulls out guitar-
Reviews are the sweet joys of life!
A
nd if you don't review I'll come at ya with a knife!

Just kidding. Or am I? But review, please, and tell me if I should continue.