Disclaimer: I Don't Own Life With Derek
CHAPTER ONE
I'm sitting in my car driving back to see the family I abandoned 4 years ago. Apprehension fills my heart. I look down at the daughter who over the last three years has come to be one of my only companions.
I don't regret leaving; I just regret leaving like I did. I did not mean to break my family's heart but with my heart so recently broken I found I couldn't stay there any longer. I dream about that time, when my life was turned upside down over and over, I can't seem to forget.
I remember it like it was yesterday . . .
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I had gotten up early, 5:30am; I had to be at school early to help Emily with something. I had to be to school by 7am, I was on my way to the bathroom, lost in thought, so I did not notice the person standing in the hallway. Just as I'm about to go in, that someone streaked past me into the bathroom, all I saw was the door slamming in my face. At first all that registered was confusion, then realization hit me. Derek!
"Derek! I was about to go in there! I've got to get to school early. What are you even doing up? Shouldn't you be sleeping until like 20 minutes before we have to leave?" I say sarcastically.
He opens the door. "Very funny, you know you should get a job as a comedian then you would be able to afford an apartment and I wouldn't have to see your ugly mug every morning." He pauses, and then looks at me. "If you weren't daydreaming you would be in here, but you know the rules. First come, first serve. Sorry."
"I wasn't day dreaming, I was thinking, I have a lot on my mind."
"Well maybe you shouldn't think so much."
"What opposed to not thinking at all?"
"Are you implying that I don't think?"
"Well if the shoe fits."
"What are you talking about?"
"Exactly!"
Derek goes back into the bathroom and closed the door, then opens it back up. "Well if I'm so dumb why am I the one with the bathroom?" Then the door was slammed in my face for the second time that morning.
"Arrgghhh! You're so infuriating!" I march back into my room and slam the door. And thus starting the worst and possibly best day of my life.
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When I finally got to school and met with Emily I was late. "Sorry, I was late, Derek was hogging the bathroom."
"Derek?" she said incredulously," up this early. "Now I've surely heard everything." She laughs, when she sees my face, she instantly sobered. "Sorry." I went on.
"He does it purposely; just because I had to be early he decided to get up early." I said practically shouting.
"I'm sure it wasn't on purpose," she says instantly rushing to Derek's defense, "he probably has a good reason to get up early today." Then as if she's realizing what she said, she laughs, "yeah right."
"What could possibly be so important that Derek would get up at 5:30 in the morning?"
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"So Mr. Venturi, I've been looking at your grades and I have to tell you, these are the worst that I've seen in a while," says new the new principal.
"Glad to impress your sir." I say jokingly.
"Mr. Venturi this is no laughing matter." He says sternly. "I'm afraid that if your grades do not make a significant improvement, fast, you will find yourself cut from the hockey team."
"Wait! You can't do that. I'm the captain. They all count on me." I say angrily.
"Then you'll have to work harder won't you? I understand you have a history test tomorrow. You would do well to study for it. You have to get at least an 80 or you're off understood."
"What that's impossible." The new principal just looks at me. "Fine." I get up to leave.
"Oh," he calls me back, "why don't you ask your sister, what's her name, oh yes, Casey, to assist you. I'm sure she'll be glad to help."
"Stepsister," I mumble.
"What?" he asks.
"Nothing," I say as I walk out the door.
I look around at my fellow students going on with their lives, little knowing that mine is about to crumble beneath me. Life as I know it will end unless I do the unthinkable, ask Casey for help. This had better be worth it.
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I see Derek making his way towards me and Emily. "Great," I mutter under my breath. "This is all I need." Emily looks at me questioningly. Then seeing the source of my distress she instantly perks up. Derek stops in front of me.
"Casey, can I have a moment?" I look at him warily.
"Why should I give you one?" I ask irritated. Instead of giving me a snide answer back he just sighs and looks at me imploringly.
"Please."
"F-fine." I stutter, surprised at his reaction. We walk over to the side, away from everyone else. "Yes," I say when we are finally after we're out of earshot.
"I need to ask a favor." He mutters.
"What?"
"I need to ask a favor." He repeats more forcefully.
"You're asking me for a favor. After you've done everything in your power to make my life a living hell since I moved in with your family. You must be kidding me." I glance at his miserable face. "Fine, what is it?"
"You know that history test we have tomorrow." I look surprised. "You didn't know about it?" he asks incredulously.
"Yes, I'm just surprised you knew about it." I say. He rolls his eyes.
"Yeah well, I need your help."
"With what?"
"I need help studying." I must have looked shell-shocked because he continued. "The new principal said that I need to pull my grades up or I'm off the team." So that's what this is all about hockey. I should have known. "He said if I don't get at least an 80 on this next test I'm off immediately."
"Okay, if I help you, what's in if for me Derek? What do I get out of this? You don't think I'd just do this out of the goodness of my heart." I look at him arrogantly.
"I'll do your chores for a week."
"Make it 2 and we've got a deal."
"Fine."
"So we're in agreement. Let's shake on it." I hold out my hand and he shakes it, he gives a sigh of resignation.
"It's been nice doing business with you."
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I can't believe I did that. I never beg. I watch Casey walk back to Emily's side smugly. I hate giving her the satisfaction, but hockey was worth it.