Title: The Happiest Day Of Whose Life?
Author: jcfl16
Summary: It's a happy day. Kind of. Okay not really. Alright it sucked. But it could get better. Right? Set after college when Casey and Derek are 27, Edwin and Lizzie are 23, Marti is 16 and Little Simon is 9.
Rating: M for slight sexual reference
Disclaimer: I don't own LWD or the character's this is completely non-profit and for entertainment purposes only. Don't sue.
Author's Note: This just came to me so I hope it's good. I hope the flashbacks don't confuse anyone I put them in italics in hopes of making it easier.
The Happiest Day Of Whose Life?
Current Day:
General POV:
Casey McDonald is standing in front of her hotel room, just staring at her door, just a plain wood door, which seemed to be mocking her. The hallway is very generic. Just like every other hotel, same goes for the walls, floor, heck, even the roof was generic. Kind of ironic when you consider who was staying here. When you consider that the MacDonald-Venturi clan has never been 'generic'.
The room Casey was trying to get into wasn't much better but after the day she had she didn't care. The only thing standing between her and the oblivion sleep would bring was this stupid wood door.
Normally this wouldn't be a problem but the key card would not corporate. Whose idea was it anyway to switch from real, reliable keys to this piece of good for nothing plastic? Key's if nothing else had character, and just because the key card was newer it didn't mean it was better. But I digress.
She would slide it into its slot and right back out and each time the red light would shine, showing that her access was denied. On any other day she just would have went down to the concierge and got a key that did work, but today she just didn't have the strength. She tried again. Red, dang.
"Just do your job you stupid key. All I need is for you to make the green light show once. That's all." She mumbled to herself as she tried it again.
Red light. Access denied.
She slammed her hands on the door and started to cry. Dang it. She promised herself she wouldn't cry this time. Of course she knew that was a lie but she expected to last a little longer than this. At least until the 'I Do's were exchanged. She hit the door several times more times before resting her forehead against it.
She just continued to sob while she stood there. She let her hands fall to her side but kept them clenched in a tight fist.
Her eyes were getting red and she knew soon her nose would run and eyes get puffy. Why couldn't it be like the movies, with clean little tears and your face stays pretty, and doesn't get puffy? She was trying to get the tears under control to avoid the 'post-tears face'. All she needed now was to look horrible.
"Casey?" Said the familiar voice of her step-brother, Derek.
She didn't want to see him. In fact of all the people in the entire world that could have found her right now she would have put Derek at the bottom of the list.
Her body got closer to the door in hopes that it would suck her up and she wouldn't have to see him.
"Casey." He said again as he took a step closer.
Abruptly Casey straightened and turned to walk away.
"Hey, Case what's wrong?"
Her back stiffened at the nickname. How long had it been since he said that? About 7 months? No, it was exactly 7 months ago. She would not answer to that nickname again, instead she continued to walk away.
He followed of course, he had never been good at taking hints, or rather he was too good at ignoring them. Same old Derek. Never quits till he gets what he wants. How is it possible that she ever liked that?
"Casey, I don't get it you should be happy." He said grabbing her elbow to make her stop.
She spun around without being prompted, her white and blue sun dress swishing at her knees. The look on her face was one of pure furry and even with her red swollen eyes you could tell she was about to explode. It was better than imploding she figured.
"Let go." She seethed. "I don't want to talk, especially not to you, not now nor ever. And I really don't want you to touch me."
He let go of her arm and rolled his eyes at her dramatics.
"So what's got your panties in a twist? This is a 'celebration', or at least that's what you said down stairs. 'It's a happy time of blah, blah, blah.' You went on forever I think I might have dosed off in the middle."
"Happy. Happy. Are you kidding me?" She spat the words at him with so much malice that they were nearly tangible. She ignored his jab at her (something that didn't happen often) and focused on the other thing he had said.
"Yeah it's your sister's wedding tomorrow. At today's rehearsal you kept spouting off things about unity, and happiness, and other sickeningly sweet words. Besides you're the maid of honor. So, yeah, happy is exactly the word that comes to mind?" he said. The wedding was in 2 days, not 1 like Derek seemed to think. Tomorrow there was another rehearsal. Her mom was over planning, Casey thought it was her mom's excuses to avoid her.
"I see no reason to be happy, Derek. Not when everything is so messed up. I mean do you really think this is a celebration?" She was all shaken up and didn't care who heard her. Initiate rant sequence. "Liz is down stairs putting the finishing touches on her wedding, and where am I? I'm here trying to get into a hotel room to avoid my mom. But it's not like it matters if I avoid her, because she's already avoiding me. What kind of mom doesn't want her daughter around? I mean seriously it's like the freaking twilight zone here. This is a wedding that Lizzie had to force our mom to come to because she refused to be in the same room as me. This is a wedding where being the maid of honor for Lizzie is a way of trying to smooth everything out between us. Lizzie is getting married Derek, married, and I feel like I'm an outcast in my own family. Mom still thinks that I've been corrupted. George is on her side because he's George and incapable of saying something that would upset her. Simon, Marti, Edwin and Lizzie aren't allowed to have their own opinions, because mom knows they'd be on my side. And, and my soon to be ex-husband is here with some blonde bimb-ette, just showcasing it around like it's no big thing. Oh yeah there is loads to be happy about." She said the last part sarcastically then paused and looked into his eyes.
He didn't say anything. Casey got even angrier.
"It's like you don't even care. What's wrong with you, you heartless jerk. How can you just stand there and pretend like you don't care." She let out exasperated
"If I cared about every freak out you had I would physically change into a chick." He said in a snarky voice.
"You cretin! You can't even pretend to have feelings can you?"
"Nope." He said smirking.
"It's like what happened between us meant nothing to you." Her arms waved wildly as she said this.
"There is no us." He said sternly and with a seriousness that hadn't been there before.
"Because of them, Derek." She made a gesture at an invisible force "We broke up because of them. But there was an 'us', at one point there was an 'us'."
"But there's not anymore. So, just shut up about it."
"Doesn't it affect you at all?" She questioned despondently. "Wait, don't answer, I know already. You never cared right? 'Cause you don't do feelings.'"
Flashback 7 months ago when it all went bad:
"Derek?" Casey said as she walked into their apartment. "Derek, are you here?"
His leather jacket was on the hook and keys on the table by the door. She didn't see him yet but he had to be home.
Her hands were full of groceries so she went to the kitchen to deposit them. The apartment was pretty much clean (no thanks to Derek) so it was easy to get through. The whole place, except for the bed rooms, had wood floors; it was her favorite type of flooring, so was to clean.
She walked through the kitchen archway and dumped the bags on their table. He wasn't in the kitchen she determined after dumping the bags on the table and went in search of him. The living room was clear she already knew that, so she walked towards the hallway opening.
"Derek." She said again as she opened the bathroom. "Nope." She continued to the next room. "Derek." She walked down the hallway and opened their office. Only one room left, their bed room.
She heard a noise as she got closer. She assumed he was up to his latest prank so she proceeded with caution. She didn't mind, arguing with Derek. It was half the fun and the make-up afterwards was always worth it.
Casey put her hand out and twisted the door knob, trying to prepare herself for whatever was on the other side.
And she thought she was prepared for anything… except what she saw.
Giggling "Oh, Derek. You say the nicest things." More giggling.
There lying on her and Derek's bed was a very busty half dressed red head with Derek, and he was peppering kisses all over her. The girl was wearing only a bra and very short jean skirt, he was wearing a t-shirt and jeans but they appeared very disheveled.
All Casey could do for several seconds was watch.
"What's going on here?" Casey said her voice coming out even but strained.
Derek looked up from his actions as if noticing her for the first time "Do you mind I'm kind of busy right now?" he looked annoyed that Casey had interrupted.
This made Casey very angry.
"Do I mind?" She wasn't sure when she told her feet to move she was only aware of being at the doorway then being at the bed. The bed with the sheets she picked out!
"Yeah that's what I said." He declared giving no reaction or acknowledgement to her mood.
"Derek, what are you doing with her? In our bed! In our room! In our apartment!" Casey yelled holding back the hot tears that came to her eyes. "After everything, why?"
"Get over it Space Case it's not like we were serious or anything. We were together, now I'm bored. So we're not together anymore."
"You barbarian." She cried out not even caring that he was still hovering over a red headed bimbo. "That's our bed."
"Yeah, whatever." He said turning his attention to the girl underneath him "Get over it." He said to Casey. Then to the red head "Don't mind her, okay?"
"Yes mind me." Casey huffed pushing Derek off of the girl and dragging her out of the bed by her hair. "That's my boyfriend." Casey said pointing at Derek "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm… um…" the red head was not looking for this much drama, just wanted to get laid.
Derek was over to Casey and the 'other girl' in a heartbeat. He ripped Casey away from 'her' by the arm, and with Casey's wrist still firmly in his hand he started yelling,
"You have no rights over me princess." He spat out the nickname like it burned him. "I am not your boyfriend anymore. I don't care about you, in fact I never cared about you, and I most certainly never loved you. It's not my fault you forgot that I don't do feelings." She gasped at the sting his words carried.
"Got it." He said as he threw her wrist away from him like it was trash.
The red head murmured something about to much drama as she grabbed her shirt and shoes from the floor and ran out the room.
"You degenerate." Casey said with teary eyes. "You low life." She slapped him one good time "You were to scared to just break up with me so you cheated to make it easier on yourself." She hit him again "You coward."
Derek glared at Casey then said coldly "You better hope I can get another date with her." He bent down grabbed his stuff and left the room and Casey.
Once he slammed the door Casey crumpled to the floor and started crying. She didn't see Derek again for nearly 4 months which is when she started helping Lizzie plan her wedding.
Back to Present:
"No you didn't care about me, you didn't love me. And you were a coward to boot. Tell me Der did that red head ever go out with you again?" She spat with malice.
"Of course she did. I'm 'The Derek Venturi', how could she say no?"
"Oh please. You are so full of yourself."
"And you fell for me anyway. Tell me how does it feel to fall for someone who could careless for you? Because I'll never know how that feels."
"I know you loved me at one point." She said with watery eyes. "I know it. That's why it pisses me off that you cheated on me."
"No, I didn't love you. I can't believe your still on that." A look of hurt crossed her face but it disappeared just as fast as it had appeared.
"You are such a jerk. I loved you and you… you didn't even care." She shook her head. "You couldn't even decide to cheat and dump me before we told our parents. If you were goanna prove them right anyway you could have at least done it before they found out."
It wasn't necessary before they found out. Before it was perfect. He didn't say that out loud. He did however say,
"It wasn't my idea to tell them."
"What?"
"You wanted to tell them." He said allowing his tone to take on a sharp teasing. With an evil smirk he added "I didn't want to say anything and didn't care if they ever found out. But no you, you had to let them in on it."
"That is not the point." She said.
"Oh but it is. See you had to tell them. It was eating you up inside. The fact that it was tearing you up and that made it more fun for me. Heck, we might still be together if you didn't have to do the right thing all the time. Don't you know that's what I'm all about. The chase, the mystery, the lies, that's all there is. Don't you know I like that. I liked that it was wrong? This is your fault. If you wanted it to go on you should have played my game."
"You blame me for why we broke up? That's rich."
"Did you or didn't you want to tell them?"
"I did, but…"
"You did." He interrupted. "So I repeat this is your fault."
"Well you wanted to tell them too."
"Um… No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"Think again Case. It was all you."
Flashback 1 year ago before 'they' found out:
"Derek?" Casey asked uncertainly.
"Humph?" Derek replied.
It was dark in the room of their shared apartment, and there nestled in the midst of their blankets on their bed was Casey and Derek. Casey was propped up on her elbows looking at Derek and Derek was asleep with his back to her and hugging a pillow, he looked quite angelic.
"Derek." She said again.
"What?" he moaned in distaste glancing at the clock. "Its 2:30 in the morning go to sleep."
"I can't sleep. We need to talk."
He quickly flipped over and said slightly worried, though he'd never admit it "Are you breaking up with me?"
"No." She said so fast and so loud that she sounded like a crazy person.
"Then," he said with a slight smile "it can wait till morning." He leaned up kissed her forehead and turned, readying himself to go back to sleep.
"No," she said grabbing his arm and making him flip back over "it can't wait till morning."
He sighed and looked at her.
"Are you in any physical pain?" she shook her head 'no' "Are you going to die?" another no "Is you're mental state going to deteriorate any more than it already has?"
"Hey!" she said slightly offended, he waited patiently "No." she said with a frown.
"Okay. Then it can wait till morning."
He tried to flip over again but she grabbed his arm. He let out a sigh.
She sat up turned on the lamp then turned to face him fully.
He groaned as the sudden light hit him, and then proceeded to glare at her.
"We need to tell them." When her words were met with a blank stare she continued "The family. We need to tell them. You know, about us, being married."
"Really? That's why you woke me up? That's what couldn't wait till morning?" His glare intensified. "Sometimes you make me question why I love you."
"This is serious." She said to him in a tone that matched her face and her words, ignoring the pleasant tingle she got when he said he loved her.
"I didn't say it wasn't princess, I just said it could wait till morning."
"It can't we have to tell them now."
"Right now?" he said sitting up.
"Yes."
"At this very moment in time?"
"Yes."
"Umm, let me think about that…No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No." he seen she was about to continue and lifted a finger to her lips to stop her from talking. "Are you listening to yourself?" he asked looking her straight in the eye. "Because you are suggesting that we call our parents at 2:30 in the morning. You are suggesting that we tell them that we are married and have been since the family vacation to 'Vegas' 3 months ago. Do you also want to include how we have secretly been dating since senior year of college, and how we were completely wasted when we exchanged vows in a hotel chapel? Is that what you want?"
He paused and she didn't attempt to say anything so he continued,
"'Cause then I have a question for you, and then what do you want to do? Sit around on the phone and wait for the yelling to stop, while our minutes go up? Or are you suggesting that we get up, get dressed, and leave our apartment with little to no sleep. Drive all the way home wake them up, at an earlier hour than they ever wanted to get up at, and tell them there, and then just let the storm unfold there? With groggy minds, no coffee, and pajamas? It's sure to be a massacre of grand proportions." He removed his hand from her mouth.
"I didn't think about that." She said sheepishly as she glanced down at the white sheets.
"Obviously." He rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"But we have to tell them." She said looking up at him with determination.
"Okay." Derek says soberly "We will. Okay."
"Thank you." She looked very relived after he spoke those words, almost as if a huge weight had just been lifted from her shoulders.
"No prob. Now go to sleep and stop worrying. 'Cause if you get bags under your eyes and grey hair you won't have to tell them, because I'll dump you." He said with a smirk.
"DE-REK!" she yelled and swatted him with a pillow.
Back to Present:
"Well it might have been my idea but I still say if you were really going to 'dump' me that you should have done it before I ruined my life and the relationship I have with my mother."
"Ruined your life?" Insert cruel smirk. "I might have ruined your life but you ruined my reputation. It took forever to get girls to realize I wasn't some sick-o who got off on doin' his sister. Do you know that the cool meter for that places you only a few levels above pedophiles and right under the band geeks and pocket protector crowd." (a/n: No offence, I don't actually rank those two anywhere near each other.)
"Go to Hell." Casey spat at him.
"News flash already there." He replied glaring at her.
"I hate you." She declared more than a little breathlessly.
"Right back at you princess." He was angry and flustered, if she didn't leave right now he would definitely do something he would regret, and he's not entirely sure it would be pleasant, well at least not for her.
She turned and walked back to her hotel room door and tried to go in. Then remembered the stupid key card wasn't working.
"Ugh." She groaned and turned back to the elevator.
Derek was standing there looking at her. No, not looking, glowering. She stomps up to him purposely shoves him with her elbow and attempts to walk past him.
She does not succeed. He grabs her elbow, the same one that hit him, and pushes her against the closest wall. His hands land on the wall on either side of her head.
All the wind rushes from her body and she suddenly realizes that he is way to close. So close in fact, that she can feel his breath against her lips. She looks into his eyes and sees anger, hatred, frustration, and passion. She not sure if he's going to hit her or… no he won't do that.
It's not the first time she has seen this look, heck she used to get this look herself. But it hadn't happened in forever, and only ever happened with Derek.
"Don't do that." Derek says through gritted teeth.
"I didn't do anything." Casey denies with a hiss.
Derek leans forward. Now his lips are only a breath away from hers.
"If you know what's good for you, you won't do that again."
"I. Didn't. Do. Anything." She says again, this time putting emphasis on each word.
Derek knows he should back up. Being this close to Casey is never good, but she dang well had better recognize that she did something, and agree not to do it again. So against his better judgment he leans forward a fraction of an inch more. And hisses,
"You shoved me, and you will not do it again." His lips brush hers ever so slightly on the last word.
Casey's mind blanks for less than a millisecond at the feel of his lips. Then she raises her hands to his chest to push him away.
"Get off of me." She seethes and pushes at his chest. Unfortunately pushing him again just makes him push closer to her. She's not sure whether this is out of spite or if he's just trying to get a rise out of her but she wants him away from her before she does something stupid.
"Admit what you did, and say you won't do it again and I'll leave."
Casey pushes again but he doesn't budge.
"Say it." He says his lips hovering just centimeters from hers.
She glares but does not speak.
They are staring into each other's eyes, and breathing heavier than they should be.
One thing that always could be said about the two was they were stubborn; another thing was that they had heat. Passion is coming off of them in waves, and neither of them knows what to do with it. Sure a year ago or even 7½ months ago they could think of plenty of things to do with it, but now it's kind of just there strangling them, chocking them, driving them slowly insane.
"I hate you." Casey says struggling against his chest.
"Yeah, I've heard."
"Then let go of me."
"Not till you say it."
"Never."
"Then I hope you like this position, 'cause we're going to be here a while."
Casey huffs and starts hitting his chest. She wants to cry, she wants to be alone, and she wants to be away from him. Well that last ones not entirely true, she wants to be with him but since she can't she needs to be away from him. It just hurts too much to be near him, and not be with him. She will not cry in front of him she quickly promises herself as she continues hitting him, which has gotten harder seeing as he has used his body to squish her hands between them.
The only thought in Casey's head is that she has to get Derek away from her. Like right now.
"Okay fine. I pushed you. Now get off of me." She feels a headache coming on and chances are it's from the tears she holding back.
"Aaannnddd…" Derek urges.
"Get off me please." She's in a sarcastically cheery voice.
"Tell me you won't do it again or I'm not moving." He says with same tone.
"UGH!" And that's it for her. What happens next is obviously not logical but she can't help it.
"You are such a pig. A male chauvinistic pig, full of double standards and lies. If I told you exactly what you wanted to hear you'd just find another reason to not move…"
"And you're a spoiled princess who can't take responsibility for her actions, and can't come up with a new insult to save her life. What else you got." He cut in.
"If I'm a spoiled princess, you're the court jester. It's like you don't realize that you can't be taken seriously. You are a JOKE!"
"Take it back." he said scathingly.
"Why? Can't you handle the truth? That you're a good for nothing waste. A joke to this family and the rest of the world."
He moves his hands to her upper arm and shakes her hard. Not enough to really hurt her because he would never do that, but enough that he hopes it'll shut her up.
"Are you trying to scare me. 'Cause I can tell you right now it's not working. You know why?" she takes a breath then whispers "Because you're a joke a j-o-k…"
His lips on hers shock both of them. But it has opened a can of worms, one that will be hard to close.
His mouth his hard against hers and she can't help but push back just as hard. When his tongue comes out seeking entrance to her mouth she lets him in.
A battle ensues between their tongues and if there was any intention of stopping it hasn't occurred to them.
His hands slide against her dress as they caress her sides and downwards. One hand lands on the small of her back to pull her closer while the other continues to roughly trace her sides.
She has one hand in his hair and is pulling it roughly while the other arm wraps around his neck to prevent him from escaping.
It isn't until they hear the shocked and outraged gasp of an older woman that they realize they are still in the hallway. They break away from each other quickly, and the older woman hastily rushes past them to the elevator, constantly looking over her shoulder in disapproval.
This Derek thing she can't handle right now, and by the look on his face he doesn't seem to understand what's happening either. So, looking properly abashed Casey decides to follow the lady into the elevator and get her key fixed. The old lady looks at her with disgust and disdain as the elevator travels down to the main lobby. And Casey is left to wonder what the heck happened.
Author's Note: Okay that's it. Please read and Review. Tell me if you think I should add one more chapter.