A/N: I for a fact know that the last thing I should be doing is starting yet ANOTHER multi-chaptered fic. But the beginning of this chapter has been sitting in my LWD folder for like ever and it's been bugging me to finish it for well, like ever. J So I decided to finish it. And when I did, I couldn't not post it…so here it is. By the way the title has nothing to do with the story, unless you want to assume that it's the name of the place they're staying. It's really just the title of a song that inspired this idea. So…on with it. Enjoy and R&R! Thanks! –Mac
Disclaimer: I don't own LWD, what a surprise.
Chapter One
Prologue
The idea was proposed. We all thought it was a great idea. Even Marti was excited. It sounded fun. Two weeks on a sunny beach sounded like a wonderful way to spend the end of summer. Mom and George even got approval from both me and Derek. You know how hard it is for us to agree on anything. The beach, the views, the hotel, everything sounded perfect.
Then we heard the rules. And not just any rules, The Rules. They came straight from George's mouth and they put a bad spin on the entire vacation.
Rule #1: It's a family vacation, so at all times you will be with at least one other family member, and that means at all times.
Rule #2: No dating. No summer flings. We're keeping the vacation rated G.
Rule #3: If Mom or George call a family outing--dinner, shopping, whatever--you're there, no excuses.
Rule #4: And try to have fun, it is a vacation.
While Mom and George assure The Rules apply to everyone, it's clear they targeted me and Derek. More Derek than me, but still us. I mean, come on. Number two! Who were they talking about? Marti? No. That was meant for Derek, and I guess me too. Derek griped about it the entire week before we left. I made a single complaint and then gave up on argument. They weren't going to repeal them. We were stuck with The Rules, and no moaning and groaning was going to change that.
I wish someone would have told Derek that. It would have made the trip there a whole lot more enjoyable.
His grumbled complaints didn't stop until we had pulled up in front of our hotel. That's not exactly the truth. His grumbled complaints didn't stop until we were out of the car and in the parking lot, looking out at the people already occupying the beach. His grumbling stopped once he saw some of the bleached blonde, fake 'n' bake tanned, bikini clad girls sun bathing in the sand. Typical Derek.
I walked up behind him and whispered indiscreetly in his ear, "Too bad you can't have any of them."
"Who says I want any of them?" Derek replied back with a smirk.
"You're the Derek Venturi. It's implied." I responded, before I made my way toward the hotel with the rest of our family.
On a better note, the rooms we had were amazing. The hotel was made up of beach-house-like suites that were just magnificent. Two bedrooms, a miniature kitchen area, living room and bathroom. Derek, Edwin, Lizzie and I would be sharing one of the suites; while my mom, George and Marti took another. I wasn't all that happy psyched about having to share living space with Derek, but I could handle that since I had to do that on a daily basis anyway. After we had explored the suite for a few minutes, we settled in to relax for a little while.
I was unpacking some of the groceries we had bought, from the store when we first got into town, into the cabinets of the kitchen area. Lizzie was sitting at the little bar that separated the kitchen from the living room, and Edwin and Derek were lounging on the couch and chairs in the living room. It was then that the conversation that would set the tone of the entire trip began. So, I guess I can blame everything that would happen in the next two weeks on Edwin.
"So big brother, see anyone of interest on the beach?" Edwin asked, in his normal encouraging-of-Derek's-ways way.
"Mmhmm…there are a lot of prospects." Derek smirked, and happily gave Edwin a high five.
"Remember The Rules, Derek." I piped up, "Number Two: no dating, no summer flings. We're keeping the vacation rated G. Ringing any bells?"
"Thanks for that, Klutzilla." Derek sneered, and then leaned back into the couch stretching his arms across the back of it. "And for your information, there are always ways around rules like that."
"The proverbial loophole, you might say." Edwin stated in addition.
"I swear Derek, if you do something and get caught…" I started.
Derek chuckled, "The beauty of the whole plan is that I won't get caught. Unless you're going to tell them." Derek's voice changed to soft, sing song murmur, "You wouldn't tell on me would you?"
I scowled. Would I tell on him? Probably not, but it was about principle. "All I'm saying is if you get caught, it will cause problems for all of us and I mean all of us. Especially whoever you buddy up with to get these 'loopholes' acted on."
"Right, Number one." Derek smirked. "Hey, Casey…want to be my buddy?"
"No thank you." I rolled my eyes, and returned to unpacking. As if I would subject myself to anymore around Derek than absolutely necessary.
"I can't very well take Edwin along with me—not where I'm going to go." Derek replied, standing abruptly and moving toward me. "Besides he'll probably want to spend all his time with Lizzie….that leaves you. And as much as I'd rather go it alone without you klutz-ing it up, I got to follow at least one of The Rules."
"You can forget about getting any help from me." I shook my head. "I don't feel like having to lie to my mother or George. Especially not for you."
"You'll be stuck with me, just watch." Derek responded, smirking in a way that made me want to cringe. Like he knew something I didn't—which most of the time he did, because he was the one concocting the idea in the first place. I didn't like it. I didn't like it one bit.
I decided to ignore it and finished with the food. My mom had said we were going to a family lunch to kick start the vacation. I wanted to get something done before we headed out again. Yet what Derek said nagged at me and somewhere I knew that for the next two weeks, I probably would be stuck with him. I get to go to a sunny beach for two weeks of vacation fun and I get stuck attached to my girl-crazed-annoying-as-hell-air-headed stepbrother's hip for the entire time. It would be just my luck.