Double Dare with a Twist
"Derek Venturi! Open the door!" It had already been five minutes and Casey was getting worried.
Derek would not back down on a chance to annoy me. Should I go ahead and open the door? What if he is hurt or worse? I did not think he was that upset. I don't think he would try to hurt himself, would he? No, he would not do that. He is not that stupid, right? Oh, He has been so different since Sam moved. He does not do much outside of the house. Would he even have a good reason to cause himself harm? Maybe I should leave and ask him another time. No, he got me all worked up. It's now or never. I am going in.
"I am coming in Derek!" She yelled over the music. She opened the door slowly and saw Derek sat on his bed resting. As soon as she walked in he woke up.
"What are you doing in my room?" He asked loudly.
"How can you sleep with that blaring music?" She retorted.
"I can sleep perfectly fine, but that does not answer my question. What are you doing here?"
"I knocked on the door and yelled and waited but you did not open your door," She explained, "I got worried."
He started to laugh. "You were worried about me?"
"Yes." She replied rather sharply, hurt that he would laugh at her genuine concern.
"What did you think I was doing? Hurting myself?" He laughed it off as if the thought was absurd. Like I would ever do something like that. Oh, that silly little Casey.
"You were so distant at dinner and I thought you were upset and so I thought…" By now she had hot tears streaming down her face. "And since Sam left, I know you have been missing him…"
"You really did think that, didn't you?" By now his smile had disappeared and he looked sort of concerned. She was really worried about me. Why though? I try to make her life miserable. I guess I will never figure out Casey McDonald.
"Yes, I am sorry." Gosh, I feel so stupid. Stupid emotions. Those stupid, silly, annoying emotions. Why am I still crying? He thinks I am stupid. I am sure of it.
"Case," He spoke slow and gentle. She had never heard him speak so soft to her. "I would never do anything like that. I would not hurt my family like that. I would never hurt you like that."
"Ok." She had stopped crying but she was still shaken up. Mostly, she was in shock because he was being so sweet to her. "Why are you not making fun of me; kicking me when I am weak?" She wiped the tears that escaped from her eyes.
"Come here. Sit down." Derek patted the bed next to him. She walked over to the bed and sat down. Instantly, he put his arm around her and gave her a half hug.
"You're my step-sister, Case. You're family."
"Thanks Der." He is being really sweet. He continues to amaze and surprise me. He can be so mean and rude and then be cute and cuddly. I guess I will never figure out Derek Venturi.
"Casey, what is it that you wanted anyway?" Derek asked after just sitting with her in silence.
"I wanted to know what Kendra wanted. Like I said, you seemed troubled at dinner." She replied.
"Kendra broke up with me." He said it about as simply as Marti stated she liked penguins. It was like "Whatever."
"Gosh, I am sorry. Must be tough."
"Nah, I am a free man now."
"You don't care one bit."
"No, not really."
"Derek, you…you…"
"I…. I…. What?"
The tender moment they shared just minutes ago was gone and he went back to teasing her.
"You know what, Derek? I bet you could not keep the same girlfriend for over 6 months."
"You know what, Casey? I bet I could." He started to smirk and she had that look in her eyes. That look in her eyes was really the only reason he liked to tease her so much. It made it so much fun.
"Ok, DerI want you to go out with the next girl who catches your eye at school tomorrow. Then, if she decides to be your girlfriend, you have to date her for more than 6 months. If she breaks up with you or vise versa, you have to banish dating for 2 years."
"Hey, what about you? What if I win?"
There is that smirk.
"Then, I win give up dating for 2 years. Ok?"
"OH, I will win, got it?"
There is that look. Hahahaha"Now get out of my room." Derek said firmly as he pointed to the door.
Casey walked quickly to the door, and then she turned around to face Derek.
"Der?"
"Yeah Case?"
"Good luck." After she said that she smiled and closed the door behind her.
Nope, never. Derek thought as he fell back to sleep.