What Casey Wants

A/N: Wow, all I can say is thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! I only hope I make the other authors as happy as they made me when I review their stories haha…
I'm glad you guys like the story so much and I hope I continue to do a good job! I'll try and update as soon as possible…and I know the rest of the family wasn't too much in the last chapter because I wasn't sure how to bring them in yet, but at least they weren't mysteriously missing! Haha Anywayz, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I'm not even sure if I have to do this every chapter, but better safe than sorry! Don't own it! Want to! (cough especially Michael Seater cough) Moving on…

Chapter 2: Stop the Voices

"What are you talking about, Casey? I heard you clear as day - you feel like an awful person…and you think my eyes are gorgeous" Derek muttered the last part rather uncomfortably.

Casey's eyes flashed with a sense of surprise and confusion, which were quickly covered up by a fake look of disgust. "In your dreams Derek! That lightening must've gone right through your brain. I would never say something like that!" She couldn't help sound a little bit uneasy and Derek sensed it right away.

"Whatever" He decided to just let it slip, he had a major headache and didn't feel like willing the brainpower to fight back. "Wait! Lightening?!"

"Well, I assume that's what happened. I mean it is pretty fierce out there…did you feel jolted or anything?"

"Yeah, actually I did." Derek recalled exactly how he felt. "But that's crazy! Wouldn't I be like, dead, or something?"

Casey sighed in mild annoyance. "Apparently not, Derek."

As if slipping out of a dream, Derek came out of his state of confusion and back to his original, cocky self. From sitting, he slowly stood up off the cold, hard ground, with his arms folded and the usual smirk firmly in place. "Well, well, well. I can't wait to tell Dad and Nora about this one. Letting me get electrocuted over some cranberry juice? Oh no, this is definitely school worthy."

"Derek that's not fair! You think I wanted you to die? I mean I hate you and everything, but I'm not a murderer. Look, go ahead and tell Mom and George about this. But I would appreciate it if you kept it at that. I'm already feeling enough guilt." Casey couldn't believe she was almost begging to a guy that had just been struck by lightening. Since when was she the victim here?

Besides a mild flash of hurt in his eyes at the mention of 'I hate you', Derek's face remained with the same smug look of satisfaction that Casey's reputation was held in the palm of his hands. He would never really do that to her again, because like he said, somewhere deep, deep, deep, deep down, he cares for Casey, but it was always fun to watch her squirm. He was mildly interrupted of his thoughts by the sound of Casey's voice.

"I'm sorry, what? You weren't done with your groveling yet?"

"Unless you mean the part where I feel really guilty, no. You're just loving this aren't you? Look, I said I was sorry! Can you please forget about being such a jerk for two seconds and accept my apology?"

Derek could've sworn he heard Casey say something else. Why wouldn't she repeat it? This time he heard her loud and clear.

'Why does he always do this to me? I hate myself for even being able to think I like such an inconsiderate asshole!'

"Excuse me?" Derek seemed a little shocked at the fact that Casey 1) cursed and 2) admitted to liking him.

"I said, could you not be a jerk for two-"

"No, no, after that" He had to make sure he heard her right.

"What do you mean after that? You're freaking me out a little; maybe I should take you to the doctor and get your hearing checked. The lightening could've seriously done something to you."

"Would you stop it? Why are you denying everything when you clearly admitted it out loud to me?"

"And just what did I admit?" Casey was a little confused and tired of whatever game Derek was playing.

Derek let out a grunt of frustration. He was a little tired of this game himself. "Fine, you said, and I quote, 'Why does he always do this to me? I hate myself for even being able to like such an asshole', give or take a few words. And I must admit, Case, I'm rather shocked at your choice of crude vocabulary. But the whole confession wasn't a shocker; I mean what girl doesn't find me irresistible? They just usually leave the whole "asshole" part out though."

Casey couldn't hide the look of pure shock she had on her face. 'Holy crap. Did he just read my mind?' Derek jumped about a mile when he realized he could hear Casey's voice but couldn't see her lips moving.

"Derek, what's wrong with you? I mean ok A) That's disgusting and B) Ew! I never said any of that! You're delusional!! Why did you jump?" Casey hoped her last question would cover up the fact that what she just said was partly a lie, because everyone knew she wasn't the greatest liar in the world. She was still completely baffled at the fact that Derek had practically known every word she was thinking.

'This is really scaring me. Maybe Derek does need help. Lightening has to have after effects! Great, I like a guy and not only is he my stepbrother, but I might have caused him severe brain damage for life!'

Derek really freaked at that point. He knew for sure he wasn't hearing things and he also knew for a fact that Casey was not speaking out loud. He started to back away slowly as Casey shot him a bewildered look.

Just then, Nora came upstairs to grab some more coffee during the commercial break when she noticed the thick tension in the room and the dripping wet teenagers.

"What's the fight about this time? And why are you guys all wet?"

'Sometimes I don't even want to know what's going on when I'm not around. These two can never get along!' Nora thought.

That was what did it for Derek. First he was hearing Casey's thoughts and now Nora's? He had to get out of there. Now.

"Um, nothing. Gotta go." And with that lame excuse, Derek sprinted out of that kitchen as fast as he could to leave a very confused Casey and Nora and ran straight out the front door to head to Sam's house. He had to find someone who could talk some sense into him, because right now he felt like a complete lunatic and his best friend seemed like the only sane option.

Unfortunately, his journey hit an obstacle when he saw Emily outside checking the mail. 'Great…just keep walking and maybe she won't see you' Derek thought lamely.

"Hey Derek!"

'Damn.' "Hey Emily."

"What are you up to?"

"Just heading over to Sam's house."

Derek felt like time was passing slower than his 90-year-old great-grandmother in her wheelchair. He had to get to Sam's house and right now wasn't the perfect opportunity to have small talk with a girl who obsessed over him every second. It was just annoying.

"That's cool" 'Oh my God, could he be any cuter? And could I be any more of a loser? Think of something interesting to say! It's just so hard to think when I look at him… Those eyes…that hair…'

"Ok well nice talking to you Emily. Later." 'Much later' Derek thought as he quickly swerved around Emily and power walked down the sidewalk before she could respond. 'Great, I get to hear Miss Fatal Attraction's thoughts too. This had better be a dream. Or at least temporary. Like it ends now kind of temporary.'

Distracted by his thoughts, he almost passed Sam's house. He ran up to the door and pushed the doorbell – more times than necessary. "Alright, geez, hold your horses." Sam didn't seem too thrilled to have someone attacking his house on a Saturday morning. After what seemed like an eternity, Sam finally opened the door to a frantic Derek who immediately invited himself inside and shut and locked the door.

"Good Morning to you to" Sam wasn't surprised by Derek's uninvited actions (this was practically Derek's second home), but he was a little confused as to why Derek hadn't spoken a word yet and was being very paranoid as he glance out the window as if checking for someone who was about to attack.

"Dude, Derek, are you ok man?" No answer. "Derek" Sam lightly tapped him on the shoulder.

"Ahh!" Derek jumped a mile in the air. Realizing who it was he let out a long breath and sighed in relief. He realized he was acting crazy, but this was a pretty crazy circumstance.
"Sorry, Sam. What did you say?"

A little shaken up, Sam slowly replied "Is everything ok? You seem really neurotic about something."

Derek started to weigh the pros and cons of telling his friend that he could hear chick's thoughts, but then realized it didn't matter, he just needed some help.

"Dude, you are never gonna believe this…"

Ok so a little bit of a cliffhanger I guess? Not as good as from the first chapter though haha. Well I hope this chapter was ok, I'm trying to move it along without leaving too much out! It'll get more interesting once I bring all the girls back into the story! Derek can't hide at Sam's forever! And weren't we all thinking the exact same thing as Emily? Man, that Derek Venturi is one incredibly hot guy :) Please review, because I love when you guys send the love!
xo, Christina