Chapter One - The Party

The house seemed to shake with the pulse of the sound system. The music was so loud. It felt like the walls may give way at any minute. This is the party of the year, according to Truman, who stood next to her guzzling his fourth beer of the night.

Casey was uncomfortable. This wasn't her kind of event. She wished it was, but no matter how hard she tried to have fun it wasn't happening. The house, the party goers, and Truman's arms around her were suffocating. A quiet night at home cuddled up with Pride and Prejudice sounded much more appealing.

"You look tense", Truman said, reaching for a cold beer out of a cooler and handing it to her.

"Here."

She hesitated. She wasn't really a drinker, but maybe- she really did want to have a good time and Truman's forced smile made her grab the beer.

She could sense that she was killing his vibe and he was getting annoyed.

The beer tasted horrible. Warm and bitter as it went down her throat. How does anybody drink this? She wondered just as her eyes spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

Derek. How had she not noticed him earlier?

His laugh seemed to echo around the room, despite the head-shattering music. He was the center of attention for one group of party goers. Standing on the coffee table in the living room, a beer in one hand and a girl she didn't recognize dancing next to him. He didn't look a bit uncomfortable, and not for the first time she envied him for it. Truman bumped her shoulder next to her.

"This isn't the first time I've seen your brother at a party and I'm sure it won't be the last. He seems to always be at the good ones. Come on." He grabbed the hand that wasn't holding the beer and began to lead her through the packed bodies.

"Step-brother", Casey muttered with one last look at Derek and another swig of the beer. She knew Truman couldn't hear her over the music through.

They stopped in the center of a large group of people who all seemed fairly intoxicated. Girl's writhed against guys, objects, and other girls while males groped at their partners and anyone else within reach. She felt gross just watching.

"Ugh, I don't know about this Truman. I don't really want to dance."

"What are you talking about? You love to dance." He whispered loudly in her ear as his hands snaked around her, pulling her close. Too close. The uncomfortable feeling in her gut was getting stronger.

"I'm not used to this kind of dancing." She confessed. Hoping that he would understand. Truman stared at her for a moment. His face unreadable and she worried that he was mad.

"I know what you need," he said, brightly. "more alcohol. I promise you'll feel way more like dancing after a few more."

"Truman, I don't know-"

"I'll be right back."

He took off toward the kitchen then, leaving her alone in the mob of hormone-driven dancers. I wasn't long before someone, a guy, reached out and grabbed her ass.

"Hey!" She moved to try to get away. Another hand brushed her thigh and she pushed her way through the dancers. This was definitely not her idea of fun.

She walked through the house looking for a quiet place to hide for a moment. Conflicted between the desire to leave, her date with Truman, along with the desire to fit in.

She told herself to stay. Not wanting to be unpopular meant dealing with these types of parties. Also, Derek seemed to be able to have fun and she was determined that anything he could do surely Casey McDonald could do better. Leaving would feel like defeat.

Walking upstairs she passed by a bathroom. Thinking that maybe she could get a moment of peace there, she stopped and pressed on the door.

Only pausing when she heard the stomach-churning sound of someone vomiting. The smell that followed just as bad as the horrible dying moans from inside.

She decided not to wait and headed outside instead.

Thinking that a quick call to Emily, may bring along some comfort and encouraging advice.

"Chug chug chug." They were chanting as beer poured down his throat. He felt like a rockstar.

Then again, he was starting to feel like a nauseous rockstar.

He was nearing his limit.

This would be the last beer chug of the night.

Yep, for the rest of the night, he would just hold a beer and pretend he was getting more and more wasted. It was his solution to all good parties without puking his guts out over the royal throne the next morning.

"Ahhh" he sighed after the last bit of beer dripped into his mouth and he crushed the can.

"Go, Derek!" A blonde girl whose name he couldn't quite remember cheered, clawing at his bicep. He thought she said her name was Laurie. Maybe Lauren or Laura. He wasn't sure. All he knew was that she was pretty drunk and was pressing her chest into his arm.

"Dance with me." She said pulling him onto a coffee table. Other people joined in until the whole table felt like it would break under their weight.

The bass of the music is blasting and maybe its the alcohol, but he feeling good.

That is until he notices her across the room.

What the hell. Casey?

The girl looked like Casey, but she was drinking a beer and he was sure that his keener step-sister didn't drink and she would never be at a party like this.

It couldn't be her and yet the more he looked he knows it can't be anyone else.

Pulling away from Laurie, Laura, or whatever he started to follow her.

"Der-eeek", Drunk girl whined. "Where are you going?"

"Gotta take a leak."

The crowd was is in full force and he danced his way through the house, always keeping the brunette in view.

He noticed a lanky guy eye her as she passed, his hand grabbing at her ass. Casey moved away, but he could see that I guy was reaching for her again.

He had the guy by his collar in an instant.

"Hey!" He heard her say, but he was hidden behind the lanky loser. It was definitely Casey. He would know her voice anywhere.

He pulled the drunk guy close to his face.

"Stay away from her," he said, pushing him away before following Casey through the crowd and out the front door to the front porch.

"I don't know about this Em." He overheard her say as she paced on the steps, completely oblivious. "I'm trying to, but this really isn't- Woah" She tripped on the step.

Time to make his presence known.

"Steady, Klutzilla." He whispered, leaning against a banister.

She whirled around so fast he couldn't help but laugh.

"Derek!" She gasped nearly dropping her phone. "Don't do that!"

"What?"

She narrowed her eyes, not bothering to answer. It was strange, why was he here?

Not having enough fun dancing with the blonde girl inside or consuming his body weight in alcohol.

"Derek's there?" She heard Emily ask on the phone and instantly she remembered her friend who was supposed to be making her feel better. So far it wasn't working. Emily had about as much experience at these types of events as she did; despite the fact that she likes to make it seem otherwise.

"Yeah, Em, Derek just showed his face. Scared me so much I almost fell off the porch." She grinned at him.

"Don't lie, Klutzilla, you know it's my good looks that knocked you off your feet."

How cocky. It was obvious that her conversation with Emily was getting her nowhere.

"Sorry, Em, I've got to go now. Talk to you later."

"But, wai-" She clicked the phone off before her friend started getting any nosier.

"What do you want, Derek?" She asked in the most annoyed tone she could manage.

Her stomach was feeling weird, and she blamed it on the beer.

"I don't want anything. Just curious." He teased. "So the keener does like to party?" He raised one eyebrow and half of a smirk.

"Must not be going too well though, if you are hiding out here."

"I am not hiding. I just needed to call Emily."

"Sure, Spacey and your call have anything to do with the fact that you don't know how to have fun?"

She flinched. Then tried to cover the hurt that no doubt covered her face.

How did he always know what ate at her the most? Damn him.

"I know how to have fun," she huffed, waving her arms toward the party inside. "I'm having fun right now on my date with Truman, who just went to get me another drink."

"Another?"

"Yes, another." She told him firmly, ignoring the fact that she hadn't actually finished a whole beer yet and only pretended to drink it until Truman left. She left it almost full somewhere and she didn't plan on returning for it.

"Now if you'll just excuse me I'm off to have more fun," she said, bumping into his shoulder as she passed on her way back into the party.

Suddenly, one conversation with Derek and drinking seemed like the answer to all her problems.

She couldn't find Truman anywhere.

But, with Derek's voice still in the back of her mind, she did find a beer.

Tossing it back while trying not to taste it too much as it emptied down her throat.

She grabbed another and went to search for her date.

Moving through the party, clutching her beer as if it were a weapon she could use to fend off any attackers.

If any grabby hands got close she swung.

It was a good strategy and she was able to search all downstairs until she realized that Truman wasn't anywhere to be found.

Had he given up and left?

The thought upset her and she drank more. It was slowing starting to taste better, but it was still pretty bad.

Upstairs, she thought, heading up the staircase of the three-story home.

She didn't think she'd find Truman here. Most everyone on the second floor was making out or more.

She drank the rest of the beer and left it on the ground along with many other forgotten bottles.

It would be murder for whoever had to clean up.

She was thinking about how long it would take when a voice caught her attention.

Truman's voice.

It sounded like it was coming from one the rooms.

Hesitantly, she opened the door she thought she heard his voice come from and instantly she wanted to shut it. There was a couple naked on a bed, writhing like the dancers downstairs, only sideways.

"I'm so sorry." She sputtered, closing the door when one of the people looked up at her and she froze.

"Truman?"

Laurie was getting on his nerves.

It also didn't help that he was starting to feel sick.

He hadn't seen Casey since she left him on the porch, and for some reason, that was bothering him. He had been getting a feeling that something wrong for a while now. Trying to ignore it, but every few seconds he found himself searching the faces around him.

Finally, he decided enough was enough. Ditching Laurie he walked through the partygoers searching for the annoying brunette.

Telling himself that the only reason he was looking for her was to tell her 'I told you so' when he found her killing the party vibe by being Casey.

But after searching every floor of the house his worry got even worse. He hadn't seen her leave. He felt certain he hadn't.

That's when he spotted Truman, snuggling up with a girl in one of the bedrooms.

Not Casey.

He was putting his tongue down her throat.

Not Casey.

Her legs wrapped around his waist.

Not Casey.

Derek knew what happened and suddenly his worry turned to panic.

Casey.

He looked all over the house.

Casey.

She wasn't on the dance floor.

Casey.

She wasn't in the bathroom.

Casey.

He was about to call Edwin asking if she somehow found a way home when the sound of crying reached his ear.

It was so faint over the music,.

Yet, there it was and was coming from a walk-in closet.

He knocked.

"Casey?" The sobbing stopped.

He pushed the door open to see her curled up on the floor. Not only one, but three empty beer bottles beside her.

Her face, tear-streaked and red looked up at him and sniffled.

At that moment he broke inside. The drunken haze he had tried to wear as protection, the cruelty and jokes he hid behind, and his title of step-brother. It all disintegrated.

"Dammit."

He closed the closet door and pulled her to his chest on the floor as she sobbed.

"He cheated. Der-ek." Her voice broke. "You were right. I'm no fun and I guess that's why he-" Guilt ripped him apart and threatened to eat him alive.

"Don't ever say that. You are fun, Case, and he's a bastard if he can't see that. He's a bastard anyway. He doesn't deserve you."

She nuzzled into his shirt and hiccuped.

"Case? How much did you drink?"

"A lot." She said, beaming up at him for a moment. "You know beer doesn't taste so bad after all. I don't know why I ever thought it did." He frowned.

"Dammit, Casey. You probably can't even taste the stuff anymore."

"Derek?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you." She whispered, moving her face up to his until she was perched on his lap, their faces almost touching. He could feel her breath on his face, and in her eyes, he could see every speck of light.

At that moment he was all too aware of how close they were. The heat in places where his clothing met hers and the burn where the skin met skin.

Too close.

She was way too close. Her expression too trusting and innocent.

Her eyes dropped to his mouth and it was impossible not to do the same.

His gaze devouring. She leaned forward coming so close that he could feel her breath on his cheek.

Her mouth parts in a whisper, "Der-," but its cut off before she can finish.

He doesn't know who moved first, but suddenly his mouth is on hers.

His arm around her tightening, pressing her against him, as her hands find purchase in his hair.

Her lips are so soft and every second they have to break apart for air is agony.

"Casey," she whispers, as his hands find her face, holding her closer.

"Derek," she hums, breathless, leaning further into him until they are both lying on the floor.

Tangled up in each other and tasting. Their actions mindless and hungry like a thirst that would never be quenched.

That was the way they stayed. Clinging to each other for hours until exhaustion overcame them and they drifted off to sleep.