Hey everyone! Sorry I've been kinda MIA...I've been wicked busy with school starting up and then realizing that even though I am almost ready to graduate, I don't want to do what I'm doing! headdesk Anyways, when I wrote the story "Almost Lover," people begged me to do a sequel. So I did. Then when I wrote the sequel, "Gravity," people begged, bribed, and threatened me to continue. I honestly had no plans, but I was hit by a bolt of inspiration. So here it is, the sequel to "Gravity." Maybe I should have like a cool trilogy name...can anyone think of one? Also, don't forget to read the author's note at the bottom.
Let me know what you think guys! Read, Review, Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own LWD or the song "The Scientist" by Coldplay.
"The Scientist"
Casey loved the whole idea of college. She loved everything about it. She loved being able to choose the classes she wanted; she loved how everyone seemed to want to be there and want to learn. She loved the interesting debates she participated in during class lectures, and how said debates sometimes carried over to coffee in the local coffee shops. The one thing she loved the most was how far away she was going to be from her family. Well, not really her family but one person. Derek. After Derek told her to leave she knew it was really through. She just needed to keep busy.
So Casey kept busy. She worked and worked over her summer classes, going to the library from open to close seven days a week. Then when she returned home she would lock herself in her room studying. When she wasn't studying (those rare times that were too far in between) she was at dance class or doing something with Emily. In short, Casey was never home. This was fine with her. It was what she wanted. However, her family was not in the same mindset. They missed her and wished they could get a chance to spend time with her before she would leave to university.
When the first day of class was two weeks away, Casey had already been living out of a suitcase for a week in a half. She was excited. She couldn't wait to get out. She was leaving for the university the day the dorms would be open, four days before the first day of the semester. She had found where her dorm building was and had already read up on the rules. She knew what was allowed and what wasn't; what she could bring and what she couldn't. She read the advice books on how to live with a stranger, even though she wasn't going to have a roommate. Because she was on a full scholarship, the school wanted Casey to be able to study without any distractions. She had a single dorm room and bathroom to herself. She was disappointed that she wouldn't have a roommate; yet she was also relieved she wouldn't have to share her space and her things with a stranger.
The day came when it was time for Casey to leave. Her suitcases were in the car her mom and George had given her as a gift. Standing outside her house she looked at each member of her family; she had said her goodbyes to her friends the night before, Sheldon cried more than she or Emily did.
Casey stepped up to George and gave him a big hug, trying to keep her tears from falling. "Thank you, George. Thank you for being more of a father to me than my own father. Thanks for welcoming me into your home and your life. Thanks for making my mom so happy. I will never be able to thank you enough for that. I love you."She felt George tighten his arms around her as he told her he loved her and that she would always have a home here.
Casey moved on from George to Marti. She picked up the young girl and gave her a big hug. "Goodbye, Marti. I love you. Be good while I'm gone. I will see you sooner than you think." Marti buried her face into Casey's neck and Casey could feel the young girl's tears. At that feeling, Casey allowed a few tears of her own to spring out. Placing the young girl in George's arms, Casey moved on to Edwin.
Edwin stuck out his hand; Casey pushed it away and grabbed the young boy in a hug. Edwin attempted to squirm away but gave up after a series of futile attempts. He wrapped his arms around Casey. Casey squeezed Edwin close to her and whispered to him to take care of Lizzie. Edwin nodded and squeezed Casey back. Casey pulled away and went to Lizzie. Lizzie threw herself into Casey's arms, tears already falling from her face.
"Casey, I'm going to miss you so much. I know I'm going to see you soon, but it won't be the same! This is the first time in my life we won't live in the same house!" Lizzie said into Casey's shoulder. Casey wiped the tears from her eyes as she tightens her hold on her little sister.
"Liz, come on. It's going to be alright. I'll email you every day and call you every night. I'll even write you letters. You are going to talk to me more when I'm gone than you did when I'm here! You'll be fine, sweetie."
Lizzie swallowed thickly and nodded, disengaging herself from Casey. Casey wiped Lizzie's tears away and kissed her cheek. Casey squeezed her sister's arm reassuringly and moved on to her mom.
Nora had begun crying that morning when Casey and George were packing up the car and she was still crying now. Casey threw herself in her mother's embrace and finally let all the tears come. The mother and daughter pair stood with their arms around the other just crying and trying to reassure the other that it was going to be ok. Casey finally broke away from her mother and closed her eyes as Nora kissed her on the forehead.
Giving a quivering smile, Casey set her shoulders and looked around at the members of her family. Casey noticed that one was missing and while she wasn't too surprised, it still hurt that he couldn't even come see her off. Noticing her look, George informed Casey that Derek had left early for hockey practice.
Casey nodded. "I figured it was something like that. Well, I'm off. I will see you guys soon. I'll call you when I get there. I love you." Casey blew them all a kiss and walked to her car. She rolled down the windows waved to her family as she backed out onto the street and headed down the road. Reaching the stop sign, Casey sighed. It was a beautiful day outside and she had a long drive ahead of her. She reached over and turned up the volume on the stereo, wincing as she realized it was one of the countless mixed c.d.'s Derek had made for her when they were dating. Shrugging, she listened to the music, thankful that she had a nice weather to drive in, good music, and a full tank of gas.
Suddenly, Casey heard a ding come from her dashboard. Looking at the gages she realized that her gas tank was at E. How that was, she had no idea because it was full yesterday and she hadn't driven anywhere.
"Der-ek!" Casey screamed. Cursing the boy in her head she turned into the nearest gas station. Casey went inside the small store and grabbed a few bottles of water and some snacks. She went to the counter and paid for her purchases and gave the cashier money for the gas she was about to fill up her car with. Thanking the cashier, Casey walked out the door, looking for her keys. Finally finding them, Casey looked up at her car and stopped. There, sitting on the front of her car as if it were the most normal thing in the world, was Derek.
Derek stood up and stuck his hands in his pockets, looking sheepish. Casey glared at him and walked to the car. She unlocked the doors and placed her purchases inside; popping open the gas tank, she shut the door and walked to the other side of the car and began filling up her car.
"What do you want, Derek?" Casey asked, watching the cost of the gas continue to rise.
"You-" Derek began. Casey whirled her head towards him, her eyes wide with shock. Derek grimaced. "Sorry, it's a habit."
Casey shook her head as disgust and pain filled her eyes and her voice. "Not anymore, Derek. It's not a habit anymore. You decided that, remember? The day you told me I was nothing more than a prank to you, a way to pass the time. Then, to make sure I really understood it, you told me to leave; so that habit of yours needs to disappear."
Derek looked at her, surprised that she would mention the prank thing. "Casey, listen…"
Casey slammed the nozzle back into its holder and spun her gas cap closed. She whirled around interrupted Derek.
"No. You listen, Derek. It's over. You are the one that decided it should be over, not me. You were the one playing me the whole time we were together. You were the one that rubbed all your new girlfriends in my face. You don't get to tell me when to listen. Do you know how hard it was to watch you all go out with those other girls? Do you know how much it hurt to hear that you were just using me? I can't believe you even think that I owe you anything, much less a chance for you to explain yourself. I did what you wanted, I left you alone. I went out of my way to avoid you. I'm leaving for university an entire year early. You won, ok? You won. You didn't want me in the house and now I'm gone. I can't believe that I ever loved-" Casey ranted getting closer and closer to Derek. When she realized how much she was revealing, Casey stopped and sighed.
"Derek, if you ever cared about me at all…in one way or another. I don't care what way or how small the amount of fleeting the moment…if you ever cared for me, please, let me go. Let me get a fresh start and let me try to fix the hurt you caused me. Please." Casey begged as tears filled her blue eyes.
Derek wanted to pull her to him, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and never let her go. He had no idea the pain he caused her was so deep; he wanted to take it all away but he couldn't. Derek nodded and took a step back.
"I'm sorry, Casey…" Derek trailed off.
Casey, who had walked to her door and was about to enter her car looked up and asked,
"For what, Derek?"
Derek bit his lip as he tried to come up with a reason, anything but the truth.
"For driving your car around all night trying to empty your gas tank." Derek said with a smirk.
Casey shook her head and glared at him. "I knew it was you! Why on earth did you do that Derek?"
Derek grinned and Casey felt her breath catch. "I knew you wouldn't talk to me at home. So I stole your car last night and drove around for hours trying to empty out your gas tank. I told the fam that I had hockey practice and I left and came here to talk to you. By the way, while you were inside buying your snacks, I got my c.d. out of your car; I knew you still had my Pink Floyd c.d. You really need to lock your car, Case. Who knows who could break in it?"
Casey frowned at Derek. "It was locked, Derek. You have a key to it."
Derek smirked again. "Oops." Casey grumbled at him and got in her car. She started the car, but before she pulled away, Derek walked up to her window. Rolling down the window, she looked up at him.
"Goodbye, Casey." Derek whispered. He reached out and touched her face briefly. Casey felt her heart flutter and she thought he was going to kiss her. Derek leaned down and Casey closed her eyes and waited. His lips never made contact. Opening her eyes she saw that Derek was already half-way across the parking lot. Casey felt the tears well up in her eyes. She rolled up the window and quickly drove out of the parking lot.
After a few minutes of silent driving, Casey turned up the music. Her eyebrows met in confusion as she realized that the song that was playing on her stereo was not one on the c.d. that had been playing before she stopped for gas. She recognized the singer before she recognized the song. It was Derek. He was playing the guitar and singing to her. The tears that hadn't fallen when Derek pulled away from her began to softly fall now as she listened to Derek sing.
Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry I had to find you Tell me your secrets Running in circles Nobody said it was easy Oh take me back to the start I was just guessing Questions of science Tell me you love me Running in circles Nobody said it was easy I'm going back to the start... Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
You don't know how lovely you are
Tell you I need you
Tell you I've set you apart
And ask me your questions
oh, let's go back to the start
Comin up tails
Heads on the science apart
Oh it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
The numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart
Come back and haunt me
Oh, when I rush to the start
Chasing our tails
Comin' back as we are
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
Ah ooh ooh ooh ooh
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
After the song, Casey ejected the c.d. Sure enough; it was a different one than before. She recognized Derek's handwriting and handiwork immediately. He always decorated the c.d. with little designs or quick drawings; his mixed c.d.'s also always had titles to describe what he was thinking about or how he felt or the message he was trying to send with the c.d. This one simply said No one ever said it would be this hard.
Casey put the c.d. back in and she continued driving, never once taking the c.d. out of the stereo.
A.N. Hey everyone! I hope that you liked it. Now I have a question for you...would you like me to continue this? I could leave it here or I could continue it. I have a plan for how I would continue it but it seems like it would not fit the style of "Almost Lover" and "Gravity." Those are both bittersweet one shots...I could leave this as a bittersweet love shot or I could continue it. What would you all like me to do?