Keep in Mind
Chapter One
"Hurry up." She said impatiently, her back aching from their awkward positions.
"I'm trying," He bit back irritatedly. "Okay Case, I'm going to put it in DON'T MOVE."
"Ow! Der-ek! Now I'm bleeding you idiot." 20 year old, Casey McDonald yells.
"It's your own fault, I told you not to move." 21 year old, Derek Venturi replies.
"Ugh, lets stop, we are going to be late." She says after pulling herself up from under...the hood of the car. He finishes putting the battery in its inconvenient placement. He never really understood what was going through some of the vehicle manufacturers head, when they made the organs of beasty old things so unconventional but they didn't want to waste money on a mechanic to put the battery in.
"Fine." He grumbled. He didn't like to listen to Casey but sometimes he had to, like lets say she told him to breathe he wasn't stupid enough to hold his breath. He knew when to listen and when to rebel and just how to piss her off doing both.
"You know I should have done it. You don't know cars." Casey stated, while examining her bloody hand. It didn't hurt as much, but it did when that sharp plastic got caught on her sleeve and scraped her hand.
"Oh yeah and you do?" He asked nonchalantly, whilst hooking up the cables.
"More than you apparently, black goes on black and red on red, numbskull." She smirked. He could have said anything to make her hit him or tear his name into two like she so often does but he couldn't think of a thing when she was bent over the engine, putting the cables in the correct places.
* V * S *
Damn she had a nice a- WOAH, I need to get me a girlfriend! I was checking out my step-sister again for Christ's sake. But she did look nice that day, I didn't notice before but she looked pretty in light blue, it matched her eyes NOT that I looked into them so much that I knew their brightness and shininess but it WAS really hard not to notice, ooh especially when that fire sparked in them if I said something that got her all riled up.
"Are you going to gawk there all day or are we getting ready?" She asked me with her arms crossed and her foot tapping.
"Uh, yeah." Man that was lame.
"Shower? Brushed teeth and hair? Clean clothes?" Case asked like the perfectionist she was.
"Last time I checked, I wasn't going on a date." I replied slyly, I was getting my groove back, ugh but I thought the word 'groove', Casey was rubbing off.
"Ew, is that the only time you do those things?" She squeaked, man I lived for that stuff but I thought I'd go easy on her that night because she actually sounded freaked out.
"No but why does everything need to be so prepared with you MOM?" I asked not interested at all, I just needed an excuse to call her mom because she always acted like one.
"I don't like surprises, you know that." she answered like it was one of those physics questions about gravity and everything is all absolute and crap. I didn't comment, mostly because she didn't react to my 'mom' thing. I was actually disappointed, I thought she understood that I needed her reaction for me to take action in the first place, otherwise I seemed mean. "And DON'T call me 'mom'." She added viciously. There's my Spacey. I really needed to get a hold on my thoughts, all day it's been like that, I thought that when I put up my mental barrier I could live in mental peace. Whenever some little day dream or thought got past, I would have to painfully remind myself that if I let them run freely, I might have eventually liked her and wanted her, and everyone knew What I Wanted I Got but 'getting' her involved feelings and even worse, showing those feelings. There was always that little thing that made me depressed enough to stop the thoughts again though. The fact that she didn't like me back, not enough to even be a friend. Even if she did like me and I did not like to admit it but I was not good enough for her, she was smart and had everything going for her, she could be a doctor or a lawyer but if my hockey career didn't work out like I hoped, how could I help her out with all the bills and stuff? And YES if I had a chance with her I was going to go all the way, marriage, babies and all that junk!
"Your spacing out a lot today, you alright?" I heard her say beside me. We had already arrived at the Chinese Palace, and apparently I was just sitting there being an idiot.
"Yeah, just hungry." She just nodded to my response and got out. I followed. When coming up behind her I don't know why but I reached for her hand and stopped myself physically with my other hand. Oh my god, get a grip! I told myself walking faster, so I didn't have to look at her face I could just see her confusion. Her furrowed brows and one cheek slightly quirked up.
"Wait up, D." she called towards me. I did slow down only because she used one of my nicknames. Usually it's a mundane designation (or whatever the word is, I never really paid attention in school) but when Casey said my nickname (or name even), it sounded better.
* V * S *
Derek was being peculiar, he wasn't hungry because he just would've eaten something at our apartment on the way out. That's what he always did, even if we were just about to go eat! What a glutton. I could not come up with a good reason how it was physically possible for scrawny him to be able fit all of that food in his stomach, I swear he had seven stomachs like a cow or something. Anyway it wouldn't excuse his absence with the world, he looked lost in his thoughts almost, ALMOST because I knew Derek did not think OR feel, sometimes I could totally see him as a robot, or droid. It would explain why he didn't age since we were sixteen unlike me with smile lines beside my mouth, Jesus I was only 20! Ugh, there he went getting me mad by not getting me mad, if that made sense. I literally depended on his insults to get me through the day properly, it helped me think because of different perspectives and preferences, I was thinking of becoming a lawyer, like George except not like George and I just knew that Liz was going to kill me for not going environmental but I was thinking criminal justice. BECAUSE people who do bad things to good people should be punished and that applied to everyone, no matter how many times they tell you they are the exception to all rules.
Sometimes I liked to pride myself by thinking that maybe Derek actually wanted to be friends but just didn't know how to only be friends with a girl who isn't a tomboy. I know he told me guys and girls can't be just friends but I think it doesn't matter your sex as long as you are always there for the other, in a non-romantic way that is and it's all you need. I mean was he's always there for me and I sort of like to think of him getting into a sticky situation but I was always going to be there for him, that's what family was for but we didn't think of each other as family so, it was friendship territory right? Right. Maybe I should try to be nicer to him and he will be nicer to me in kind. I hoped so because I didn't want to hate him but when the only things he planned were ways to make my life harder, it put a damper on our friendship. And I did like him, it was just he kept treating me like crap so I reacted like I would if I was Emily or Sam or Ralph. I got mad. I set him straight but he always had to make it worse by insulting something he shouldn't have, like my hair in the morning, or my klutziness, or when I was obviously acting different around a guy I liked, he just knew what I didn't like about myself and rubbed it in, jerk. There I go again! Good thing we did not have to discuss this stuff, I liked that about our relationship or whatever we had. We didn't need to talk about feelings and emotions or confusion on my part. We just bickered, it was nice, refreshing. I think we'd both be really lonely if mom and George didn't suggest that we shared an apartment during university. I would have probably called him and yelled at him for walking on the wrong side of the hall just to get an argument going.
On our little journey through the restaurant, to find the rest of the family we came across Emily and Sam, sitting alone...
* V * S *
"Enjoying your date?" I asked, mostly as a joke but Sam turned beat red. So I assumed I actually hit the bulls-eye.
"D, w-we can't just b-be friends?" Emily stuttered, sure sign that she had her pants on fire on a telephone wire.
"Uh, no." I replied, smirking. It was kind of awkward for me and Casey to find Emily and Sam on a date, I mean they were our best friends so if they got together, then... NOPE, I forgot to stop those thoughts.
"Your on a date?" Casey asked, obviously befuddled because she was just so dense and innocent, thinking that nothing happened behind closed doors. It was cute.
"NO!" Sam yelled a little too loudly and quickly. "I mean we were just, hanging out is all." He said looking down at his plate, I couldn't see how being so shy was sweet to girls. But for Sam it worked I guess. Casey looked at Emily, with that (I'll hound you all night on the phone like silly girls do if you don't spill) look.
"Yes, we are on a date." Emily said, her shoulders shrugged down like she gave up the secrets to world domination.
"Em!" Sam whisper-yelled confirming their relationship when he used her nickname.
"That's so cute!" Casey squealed pinching Sam's cheek and hugging the now, standing and relieved Emily. Not that it wasn't weird for them to get it on but they did seem like they would last, and they looked happier now that we knew and they could hold hands and do gross couple things.
"Get back to sucking face," I said to Em and Sam, then rubbing my stomach with puppy dog eyes. "I'm hungry Case." She looked at me and laughed, maybe my puppy-face wasn't working anymore?
"That rhymed!" Laughed Casey, she was such a lunatic but I smiled anyway because it WAS an unplanned funny thing. An it's-funny-but-I'm-actually-serious smile.
When we got to the table, after our encounter with the happy couple everyone was there, Ed, Lizzie, Marti and the rents. Ed looked taller from last summer and Lizzie looked more grown up. Marti was still adorable but obviously older, and Dad and Nora well they looked old(er). I turned my head to Casey beside me and she looked more beautiful over the years, she aged like fine wine. Fuck, that was sappy. She had laughter lines near her mouth and they made her look happy even when she wasn't smiling. God, I could kiss her BUT that was that inappropriate thinking again. We sat.
"Hey." I said, to mainly everyone. They just greeted me as usual, nods and salutations but Casey being Casey just had to hug everyone for her hello.
"Did you order yet?" I asked, disappointed I wasn't getting a hug and turning to the only thing that could make me happy. Food.
"Nah, we just arrived a few minutes before you, did you see Emily and Sam?" Ed replied.
"You mean the gross couple fest just over yonder?" I asked looking over to said couple and pointing my finger towards my out stretched tongue.
"Can't you just be happy for them?" Casey asked annoyed.
"I don't care if they are a couple or not, they just don't have to be so hand holdy in public. Yuck." I answered still holding my face in a (what's that smell) look but that soon changed when our waiter finally came by. Finally food.
* V * S *
After our dinner, all of us said our goodbye's and I hugged everyone again. Though I just did before dinner also. Mom and George told us when they were leaving and where we were going to meet. We were all going on a vacation to Vancouver, BC. We were going to take the route suggested by Google. It took us through the United States, past Minneapolis (which is where we were going to meet and rest) then the next day finish the drive. I was packed and ready to go. I didn't know if Derek was though, so I was going to have to look over his suitcase when we got back home.
"I can't wait for the mountains." I said to Derek, when he drove us home. He smirked but said.
"Yeah, me too Case." He probably couldn't wait for mountain girls but it still didn't effect my excitement. This was going to be awesome but I had a feeling things weren't going to go as planned. Living with Derek for so long I suppose that is to be expected.
The next morning, I woke up at 6. Showered, got dressed, tamed my mane and made pancakes for Derek and myself (in that order). I felt so good that I made some chocolate ones too because as unhealthy as it was those were Derek's favourite.
"Something smells good." Speak of the devil.
"The ones on the left are chocolate." I stated not feeling like downing my mood by bickering so early and on such a good day.
"My favourite? Thanks Princess." He said as he grabbed a plate from a cupboard. When we sat down he smiled, a real smile no smirk. "Good morning."
"Morning Derek, do you like them?"
"They'll do." He teased.
"Jerk." I said playfully.
"Klutz." He countered quickly. "They are good though but don't tell anyone I said that because I'll deny it until my grave." I just smiled at the compliment, that was as sweet as Derek got so I didn't reply with a snide comment, I asked.
"You packed?"
"Get off my back woman, I did it last night."
"Just like you to wait until the very last minute, you procrastinator." I observed.
"Yes, and I am proud that I'm being recognized for the fact." He said as if he was accepting a trophy of some sort.
"Dork."
"Nerd." He said between bites. He finished before I did but he surprised me by eating what I had left and grabbing my plate to wash.
"Thanks, Der you should get changed soon we have to leave by 7. I'm going to start loading my stuff into the car." I declared, getting up from the table and making my way towards my room.
"Kay!" He bellowed making sure I could hear.
* V * S *
Wow, Casey made me pancakes. Not just pancakes but my favourite. She WAS excited. Her pancakes were awesome. As I was finishing the dishes I heard humming. Was Casey humming? Since she was in such a good mood I thought it could only make my day better if she wasn't nagging. So I helped her with her luggage and she helped me in kind. I hoped she would let me drive but of course, she only let me drive to the gas station, where we or SHE switched seats but I didn't blame her. My driving wasn't so good, sure she was super cautious but I had the Venturi gene, and it rendered me very unsafe for long distance trips.
"Fill." I said to the service guy. "Are you getting some stuff for the road?" I asked Casey as I handed her a 20 for my half of the gas.
"Yeah, you want some chips?" She was being really nice, letting me eat chips and all.
"Sure do, on you though." I replied, she rolled her eyes but didn't reject it. Sweet!
"Your girlfriend is pretty." Service guy acknowledged.
"Hands off and she's not my girl." I joked. Except for the last part, obviously. Service guy just laughed and started to fill up the prince. I looked towards the convenience store window and seen Casey pointing towards a bag of chips. It wasn't my favourite but I nodded anyway. She was buying me chips, so I wasn't going to complain. I was so ready for the vacation.