Chapter 1
Umbrella

"I don't see why you have to have your date here," Casey yelled from across the living room.

"And I don't see why you're still here," Derek retorted smartly. Casey fumed. All she wanted was one quiet evening. No family running around, no loud music, no additional annoyance.

"I can't believe you. Last time the family was gone, I stayed in my room all night just so you can have your stupid marathon night with Sam," Casey continued angrily.

"Oh, like you didn't want to spend your night alone in your bedroom. I mean, all that homework," Derek said, as he fell back on his recliner. As much as she hated to admit it, Casey felt her insides tighten at the harshness of his tone. She refused to let him win.

"Fuck you, Derek. You can go anywhere else with your date," she countered unrelentingly. "And still please your raging hormones."

"That's really rich, Case. Got any more half-ass comments to make?" he dripped sarcastically, looking at his watch. "'Cause I still have a good 35 minutes before Wendy comes."

Casey sputtered, not believing her stepbrother's audacity. What Derek wants, Derek gets. She really couldn't get around it, could she? This is how it's been since she moved in here; this is how it'll always be. Casey tensed as she watched Derek flick through the channels on TV. He was just so selfish. She didn't know how long she stood there until she realized she was going to cry. The frustration of living with Derek was driving her up the walls; it simply wasn't worth the effort anymore.

"Fine," she said in a tone that she hoped sounded cold, hoping he didn't hear the tremor in her voice. She grabbed her sweater and headed straight for the door, not exactly sure about her destination. She just needed to get out. The last thing she wanted was Derek realizing she was about to cry.

She slammed the door behind her and hurried to put her sweater on before the crisp autumn wind bit her skin. She was so frustrated and angry; she honestly didn't know what to do at this point. She kept on walking, never stopping or looking back. A good fifteen minutes later, she reached a deserted park and proceeded to a far-end corner, trying to keep her tears in check until she was properly seated.

There was a mother and a child approaching the playground but took no particular notice of her. At this point, Casey didn't care. She was crying hard and merely tried not to sob too loudly. She hunched her head low and covered her face. She was sure the sight she presented was pretty pathetic. As her tears slowly subsided, she felt a tap on her shoulder, only to look up and see a little girl staring back at her.

"Are you okay?" she asked wide-eyed. Casey recognized her.

She nodded and swatted her eyes. "Amy! Yes, I'm fine. Thank you," Casey said nicely, appreciating the concern.

"But you're crying!" the girl persisted indignantly.

"Amy," the mother admonished half-heartedly. She came closer and scooped her daughter up. "Hey Casey."

Casey smiled. "Hey Mrs. Moore." Her voice was hoarse from her crying. She hastily wiped her eyes again, embarrassed at being caught.

"Haven't seen you in a while," she said casually. She was smiling warmly down at Casey, a worried expression on her face.

"I know," Casey admitted. She used to baby-sit Amy a year or so ago. Mrs. Moore was also one of George's colleagues. Casey remembered how she had insisted Casey to call her Sarah.

"It's pretty cold, and you seem to have been out here quite a while… well at least as long as we have," Sarah stated, setting her daughter down. Casey didn't even know how long she had been there for.

"I'm okay, really," she dismissed, trying to sound convincing.

"You're shivering," Sarah responded matter-of-factly. Casey hadn't even noticed until then, feeling a violent shiver coarse through her at the realization. "You should go home."

Her face contorted in an awful grimace before she had a chance to stop herself. She hoped George's associate hadn't noticed, but knew it was hoping for too much.

"Don't you have the house to yourself? I do remember George worrying about leaving you and Derek alone for the weekend," she asked, genuinely intrigued. For some unexplainable reason, Casey wasn't annoyed by her persistence. Her comforting tone sounded genuine and sincere.

"Exactly…" she finally mumbled. She let out a loud sighed, suddenly tired from all the frustration she's been feeling lately.

"I see," the older woman said, nodding in understanding. "Well, you're welcome to come hang with us for a while. Amy, tell her about the cookies you made!"

The little girl's eyes lit up as she bounced in excitement. "I made chocolate chip cookies with mommy." Her enthusiasm was infectious and soon had Casey smiling despite herself.

"What's worse, they're not half-bad," Sarah admitted with an impish smile. Casey laughed, feeling herself unwittingly relax at the easy atmosphere they seem to have created.

"That's very nice of you," Casey said politely, happy at their offer but afraid she might come off as rude if she simply accepted.

"Oh, it's nothing really. Of all the things your family has done for me, it's honestly my pleasure," she reassured unabashedly. "Now come, the car is right over there."

"Are you sure it's okay?" Casey asked worriedly.

"Please, Casey. It's just me and Amy home tonight. My husband is out of town on a business trip. We'd actually really like the company," she continued sincerely. She unlocked the doors and motioned for Casey to take the front seat while she buckled her daughter in the back.

The drive didn't last very long but Casey was smiling like an idiot when they reached the house. The whole car ride was spent listening to Amy's rendition of 'Umbrella'. She sang Jimmy Hendrix's 'bold as love' upon her mother's request. Granted, Amy didn't know any of the words but she made them up along the way.

When they finally reached the front door, Casey was feeling distinctly better.

"Have you had dinner?" Sarah cheerfully asked from the kitchen door. "Amy and I haven't yet. Would you like to join us?"

"Sure," she answered, trying to keep her attention on Amy's hands to discover the scam behind her magic trick.

"You won't find it," Amy kept saying happily.

"Just you wait," Casey said determinedly, easily pulled by the little girl's zest.

It wasn't until later that thoughts about Derek resurfaced.