Derek sat at the island, talking with himself in his head, eating his cereal while everyone was rushing around getting ready for the day. It happens to be a Saturday. Did I mention that it was spring break? Oh and also, that the Venturi and McDonald household were going on vacation, well except for Casey

and….Derek.

Nora was in Casey's room as George and the younger children were loading up the car to get to the airport. Usually Nora would have never let Casey
…..And Derek

be left behind, but since they were both in their senior year, they can handle it.
Casey would usually be coming, but of course she happened to be sick.

Nora takes out the thermometer from Casey's mouth, taking a deep breath, and then exhaling with frustration, "still high."
She then places it back in the case to be cleaned later and fixes the blanket around her daughter's waist.
Nora then combs through her daughter's hair,
"well not as high as yesterday but…."
With a frantic speak and worried look Nora continues,
"….oh hunny are you sure you will be fine? We can stay, I already spoke to George and he said we can reschedule this trip, I just do not want to leave you if you feel like you can't take care of yourself…"

Casey raising herself in the bed interrupts her caring mother.
"mom, it will be fine, I am practically an adult now, and you know I am mature enough to take care of myself, I know I will have the house all to myself but I will spend most of the time in bed, you guys are only gone for a week so it will be okay" she places a reassuring hand on her mother.

Nora's face gets weary and she takes another deep breath and smiles weak at her daughter.
"Well Casey, dear, actually…Derek will be staying too...you see...Ge..."

Casey went a bit pale and had to cover up her looks and immediately yelled.
"WHAAAAAAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE IS STAYING?!?, WHY?! I AM SICK ENOUGH!"

Nora chimes in with a bit of an attitude. "Casey stop yelling, your brother.."

Casey bitterly " STEP"

With a hard look Nora " Derek. Is staying because George asked him to stay, just in case things escalate with you, and you need someone's help. He is being nice and after thinking it over Derek agreed, so just be nice sweety. I mean it. It won't be so bad."

An angrier, on the verge of tears Casey. " MOM you can't be serious! I wanted some peace and quiet, and with him staying!..th.."

Nora gets up from the bed and nears the door, "CASEY, please stop over thinking so much, it will be fine, and you will end up wanting someone to talk to, I love you and will call every once in a while to check up, it will be okay." Nora smiles at her daughter and walks out the door to head downstairs.

Casey is lying in her bed, clearly upset. Arms crossed, and pouting. Thinking.
" why does he have to stay! Gosh my mother is so not understanding, he is just going to mess with me and make me feel worse, he is such a freaking…beautiful pain….ugh! I hate how I feel about him.. or how I think I feel about him. I can't help it, at first seeing him, I had the hugest crush, but finding out he'd be my step brother…ugh…I just could not suppress this feeling anymore…I am such a freak. Ugh why does he have to stay!"
Casey lunges her pillow towards the door and hears a loud deep umph.

"Casey I was just coming up here to say we are leaving, what is wrong?" George says picking up her pillow.
As Casey continues talking Edwin, Lizzie, and Marti are heard yelling their goodbyes.

" Sorry George it was an accident, have fun okay."

George gives her a strange look and just agrees, " okay well we love you and will call when we land, I already talked to Derek and don't worry, he said he understands you are sick and not to be bothersome, okay dear? Get some rest." He walks out launching the pillow back on her bed and heads downstairs and out the door.

Casey flings herself back and breathes out her frustration.

MEANWHILE:

Nora and George with the Kids in the car, waving at Derek at the door.

Nora smiles, " Be good okay, take care of Casey please if she needs help"
George" no parties, we have spies everywhere!"

Derek waving "okay guys okay, what do you take me for?" he slips his smirk then shuts the door. He heads for his recliner, dressed in a t shirt and his sweats, he now feels alone, and takes off what he feels is making him constricted.
"Good bye pants" laughing to himself. Off they go, now wearing boxers, and then takes off his shirt. Feeling liberated.
He laughs and walks triumphantly to sit at his recliner because Casey is locked in her room in quarantine.
"Sweeeet." He then turns on the TV and chills.
Noticing that he is alone, he realizes that means he does not have to pretend, for a second.
Then looks up to the stairs, and his smirk, goes to a frown and his mind hits fast forward.

I am an asshole. I am scum. I am dirt. I am an idiot. I am a fucking incompetent piece of shit.
I have to tell myself this every morning. Every time I go to sleep. Every time I see her. I have to reassure myself that there could never be anything between us. Because I am not good enough for her and no one is. Not Sam, Truman, Max, or any guy with a dick that goes near her.
She should just be a nun, she is an angel why not completely finish the deal?
She can be so over whelming but she is amazing, and I can never have her, even if she is in the same house as me….I am nothing and she is everything…
Derek turns to the TV and watches, to go back to pretending,

until he hears a soft voice coming from behind him.

"Der.....ek?"