A/N: The prologue is intentionally short and is directly lifted from the final scene in "Futuritis." The prologue serves to set the scene for the rest of the story as it unfolds. Additionally, I don't own any rights to LwD ... and this is my first fanfic, so please be gentle if you choose to review. Thanks!
"Hey, what are you doing up so late?" Derek looked up from his bowl of ice cream, course book in one hand, as Casey strode into the kitchen. She was in her PJs, golden-brown locks tied back into girlish pigtails, fresh-faced and giddy over her pending studies at Queen's University in the fall.
"Picking courses for next year. There are so many amazing classes …"
"I know! Women's literature, feminist theory …" Derek trailed off.
"Derek, you're only taking those to meet girls."
"Uh, yeah! But maybe I should just take the classes you're taking and then take all your notes." Derek forced his characteristic smirk as he spoke, hoping that Casey didn't see the briefest flash of longing pass over his face. Over the years, through all the very-real fights, the teenage dilemmas, and the times that they had laid aside their differences for a greater good, he had slowly fallen for her. At first, he had chalked it up to family bonding, but after several years of increasingly inappropriate thoughts, he couldn't deny it, even to himself: he loved Casey McDonald.
There was, of course, the minor issue that his father was married to her mother, so he had been forcing himself for months to maintain their relationship in the status quo. He tried everything—pranks, teasing, ignoring her, and, especially, dating other women. He even went so far as to start dating her best friend, Emily Davis, shortly before prom to avoid dealing with his true feelings. He knew that it would never last, but he figured that he could force himself to date her for a few months before she left for university in Toronto, before he left for Europe and left his life behind him. He figured that once there was an ocean between him and Emily, he could blame the distance for the inevitable failure of their relationship and he could maybe, finally begin to get over Casey. Casey, who had NO idea what had been going on in his head for months. His surprise acceptance into Queen's and her decision to take her scholarship put them back into an impossible situation: instead of an ocean between them, they were going to be sharing a campus, maybe a residence.
Maybe a bed. Derek chased the thought away, instead choosing to provoke Casey by threatening to date her sorority sisters and to be her best bud.
"Derek, you are the most annoying brother—"
"—STEP-brother—" Derek interjected.
Casey's eyes darted away and then back at Derek through lowered lashes. Steadying her gaze and with a small, tentative smile, she answered, "Same difference."
Derek stared her down for a second before answering, "Yeah. You're right." He let the words hang in the air. He kept his eyes locked on her, searching her face for some clue that she didn't mean what she said and that maybe she had fallen for him too. She gave another small smile, curling her bottom lip inward before glancing away. That was the look! She's disappointed that I didn't argue with her! No, dude, this is Casey. She's not disappointed; she's probably thrilled that I said that she's right. I mean, that was definitely a sad look, but there's no way that had anything to do with this right now. She's probably just sad that she has to leave Ed, Lizzie, and Marti in August. That had nothing to do with me.
"Hey," Derek said, breaking his stare, "maybe we can live in the same residence." The moment of tension was gone, the cocksure grin returned to his face, and Casey rolled her eyes. "I'm living in an all-girls' residence."
"I know."