Wow... I did not think I would be updating on the second day but when I saw your reviews I was extremely happy. I am so glad you guys like this story so far and are giving it a chance. Thank you to all who reviewed! You guys rock! So this is for you. =]
Chapter 2
What a Great Punishment!
"So what do you think he's going to do?" Lizzie asked as she sat on the end of Casey's bed. She'd entered the bedroom right after Casey had, after hearing the yelling that had gone on downstairs.
Casey explained the whole story to Lizzie - well except the part where she was sure Derek was about to kiss her - and now Casey was lying with her head in her pillow wishing she could use it to suffocate a certain annoyance in her life named Derek.
Casey looked at her sister and sighed, "I honestly don't know, but whatever it is I know it's going to involve Derek and I "getting along or else"." She air quoted with her fingers.
"I don't get why you two have to fight all the time..." Lizzie mumbled.
"I can't believe you just said that!" Casey stared at her sister in shock. "Hello! It's not always my fault! For some reason Derek enjoys making my life miserable."
"Well why don't you try to ignore him? Giving in to him only ever makes things worse for you, Case."
"I have tried to ignore him with all my might! He just always seems to find a way to make me react. You're so lucky you got Edwin as the step-brother your age."
"Edwin's not perfect either. He bugs me too."
"Not every second of every day." Casey eyed her sister.
Lizzie sighed, "No, but he still gets on my nerves sometimes."
"Well lucky for you it's only sometimes. Try having it all the time." Casey said as she dropped her head in her pillow again. "I wish Derek would just grow up and leave me alone for good." She mumbled.
"Derek isn't always that bad, Casey, and you know it." Lizzie said.
Casey ignored her sister's comment. She knew she was right but she didn't want to admit it. Sure, Derek could be a decent guy sometimes and he was really great with Marti, but it still didn't make up for the fact that he was also a conniving jerk as well.
Her mind suddenly wandered to when Derek was on top of her and his face was moving closer and closer to hers. Why would Derek want to kiss me? That's completely absurd! He hates me and I hate him! But... the way he was looking at me... No! It's only your mind trying to deceive you, Casey! But if he had really kissed me... would I have kissed him back? She had to think about that for a moment.
"Never!" Casey suddenly shouted, catching Lizzie off guard.
"Never what?" Lizzie eyed her suspiciously.
Did I just speak out loud? Oops. Casey covered her mouth and looked at her sister who was waiting for an explanation.
"Um... Sorry, Liz, it's nothing."
"Whatever." Lizzie sighed.
* * *
Edwin looked at his brother in confusion as he entered his bedroom and closed the door, "what do you want now?" Derek had texted him on his cell phone saying Get Your Butt in Here NOW, so Edwin had no choice but to listen to him.
"Dad's really mad." Derek said as he looked up at him from his computer chair.
"Yeah, I could hear him yelling all the way from the attic."
"I'm afraid he's actually considering punishing me and Casey."
"So what? It's not like you haven't been punished before." Edwin shrugged.
"Yeah, well it's usually just grounding... but I don't think he's using that option this time... or else he would have come out and said it then."
"So what do you want with me?"
"You, my younger brother that adores me so much, is going to go see what he is up to." Derek said as he folded his hands in his lap with a smile.
Edwin rolled his eyes, "Why don't you go find out, my brother who only adores himself."
Derek was slightly taken aback that Edwin was actually standing up to him so boldly.
Well, he is getting older... I guess it's about time... But still, I am the eldest, so what I say goes. Derek thought as he stood up and glared at his brother with his hands on his hips.
"Ok, ok... fine I'll do it." Edwin caved all too quickly. "But you owe me." He said as he turned the knob. He then stopped and turned back around with a grin, "But first, I want you to tell me what was going on between you and Casey on the couch downstairs?"
"Ed, do you actually think I would do something like that with Casey of all people?" He shuddered for effect.
"You've got to admit, she is pretty hot for a step-sister."
"Casey isn't hot period."
"Yeah, well you sure didn't seem to think so when you were on top of her, inches from her face." Edwin sneered.
"We were fighting that's all. Now get moving before I tell Casey you think she's hot." Derek threatened.
"Whatever, Derek, I see the way you look at her sometimes. You may fool her but you don't fool me." Edwin said as he opened the door and walked out.
Derek closed his door and leaned against it.
Is it really that obvious that I'm attracted to Casey? Derek wondered. He thought she was gorgeous the moment he'd laid eyes on her, but he knew he could never be with her, especially since she was now his step-sister. So to keep from hitting on her every chance he got, Derek decided to insult her and be mean to her instead, which he did sometimes feel bad about doing, especially since it made Casey despise him even more.
Sally had taken his mind off of Casey for the longest time while they were dating. He actually truly cared about her... But now that Sally was gone and Casey was done with Truman (that Jerk), Derek couldn't resist the urge to check her out, or kiss her, like he'd almost done downstairs on the couch. It was becoming a temptation that he couldn't fight much longer. He hated having to see her everyday and not being able to tell her how he felt.
Wait... how do I feel? He thought. It's definitely not love... It's merely an attraction... maybe a bit of lust... but definitely NOT love. He shook his head with disgust at even the thought of loving anyone, especially his step-sister.
Derek lay back on his bed and pulled out a magazine to distract his thoughts from Casey. He really didn't want to think about her right now.
* * *
Edwin hurried up the stairs wondering if he should tell his brother what he'd overheard or not but stopped when he saw Lizzie coming out of Casey's room and closing the door.
"Hey, Liz." He called in a stage whisper.
Lizzie turned to look at him and rolled her eyes, "What do you want, Edwin?"
Edwin walked up to her and pulled her away from their sibling's doors, "I think I know what they plan on doing with Casey and Derek."
Lizzie's eyes went wide, "Were you spying on them for Derek?"
"N...no..."
"Yeah right."
"Ok I was, but that's not the point right now."
"So then spill."
Edwin glanced around nervously and then looked Lizzie in the eyes as he placed his hand on her shoulder, "Ok... I heard my dad say something about locking them up somewhere."
"Locking them up where?"
"I'm not too sure but I did see them bringing things up from the basement for some reason..."
"They wouldn't really do that would they?"
"Well the basement does have a lock..."
"Poor Casey." Lizzie said as she turned away from Edwin and started walking towards her sister's room.
"What are you doing?" Edwin asked as he grabbed her arm.
"I have to tell her."
"No! You can't."
Lizzie turned to face him as she pulled her arm from his grip, "But you're going to tell Derek."
Edwin smiled, "Actually I'm not."
"Derek will kill you if you don't."
"I don't even know if that's what they're planning for sure anyways."
"Edwin, I can't keep something like this from Casey. She trusts me."
"So don't tell her you know."
"What are you going to say to Derek?" She crossed her arms.
"Nothing. I'm sick of him thinking he can push me around like a little mouse. I'm through with being his spy."
"That's what you've said before." Lizzie stated as she rolled her eyes at him once again.
"I'm for real this time. I'm practically as tall as Derek now, he can't push me around like he used to. Derek deserves to be locked in a basement."
"But Casey doesn't. She'll die if she has to stay down there with him."
"Well... Casey was the one that broke the lamp..."
"Because Derek tripped her!" Lizzie advanced on him in defence of her older sister.
Edwin held up his hands, "Ok, ok... Look, maybe this will be a good idea for them to be locked up together..."
"What? Are you crazy?"
"I bet you that after they come out of that basement, things won't be the same."
"Yeah, because one of them will be dead... or maybe even both."
"Come on, Liz, you know it can't hurt. I bet you that Casey and Derek will actually treat each other with respect after this."
Lizzie thought for a moment, "Fine, I'll take that bet."
"Loser does the winner's chores for a month." Edwin grinned.
"Deal." She agreed as they shook hands.
Lizzie was feeling slightly guilty for going behind Casey's back like this however.
* * *
"Derek! Casey!" George's voice called from the living room.
Derek and Casey both emerged out of their rooms and glanced at each other before taking the stairs and descending them one at a time.
"Please, sit down." George said as he motioned for them to take their seats on the couch, once they'd landed on the bottom step.
Derek went to sit in his chair but George stopped him and pointed to the couch next to Casey.
"So what's the verdict?" Derek asked as he obeyed and sat next to his step-sister while she tried to move further from him.
"Before you begin, I would just like to sincerely apologize for breaking your lamp, Mom, and for upsetting you, George. I am honestly and truly sorry." Casey said as she looked at them.
"I forgive you, honey, but it still doesn't get you out of punishment." Nora said.
"I know." Casey sighed.
George cleared his throat, "I forgive you too, Casey and Derek, but what I am about to say now is serious and I don't want to hear a single word out of the both of you until I am done. Is that clear?"
They both nodded tentatively.
"Good. Now, when I was younger, I used to fight with my brother constantly. My parents got so sick of it that one day they locked us in a room together until we could get along and it actually worked for a while. After spending that time with my brother, we actually got to know each other better and began to respect each other a bit more."
Casey and Derek both went rigid but didn't say anything.
"So, Nora and I have discussed it and we agree that you will both be spending the day together in the basement."
"What?" They both exclaimed.
"I'm not finished." George cut in with a stern look. They both shut their mouths but protested with their eyes. "Like I said earlier, you two have been living under this roof for almost four years now, it's about time you started getting along and acting more mature. You're probably only going to live here for a year or two more until you both decide to go to college or University and start your own lives, so why not spend those last couple of years loving each other, instead of hating one another. Plus, you can get to know each other a little better while down there. You never know, maybe you'll find out that neither of you is as bad as you thought."
"But, Mom, you seriously cannot expect me to be locked up in a basement all day with Derek!" Casey said as she stood up.
Nora stood her ground, "I'm sorry, Casey, but you brought this upon yourself, you and Derek. I agree with George one hundred percent. You two need to stop fighting and if this is the only then so be it."
Derek stood up beside her and placed his arm around her shoulder, "What's the matter, Case? You scared?"
Casey glared at him, "You're not actually ok with this are you?"
"Maybe they're right, getting to know each other a little better isn't such a bad idea." He grinned.
Casey shrugged out of his touch and stared at him with a bewildered face. She thought he would hate this idea as much as she. He's up to something... She concluded and then an idea came to her head as she turned back to George and her mother, "Isn't that like child abuse or something? Locking your kids up in the basement..."
"Nope. You will still have your own bathroom down there, windows that open, and you will still be able to come up for meals. Think of it more like being grounded."
"Mom, George, isn't there anything else we could do? Please?" Casey asked. She decided to resort to begging as she pleaded with her blue eyes. She could tell her mother wanted to give in but George placed a hand on her shoulder to keep her strong.
"I'm sorry, Casey, but it's settled." George said with a straight face.
What has gotten into him? Casey wondered. Since when did George actually get a spine?
"Derek seems fine with it and I hope you will too." George said as he placed his hand in Nora's and started walking towards the kitchen, "Let's go."
Casey didn't move, she couldn't move. She couldn't believe that they were actually making them do this.
"Come on, Case, just think, a basement all to ourselves." Derek grinned from beside her.
Casey shoved Derek, the anger building up inside of her, "What are you up to?" She scowled.
"Can't a guy want to get to know his step-sister a little better?" Derek said innocently with his arms raised in surrender.
"Derek and Casey!" They heard George call.
"I'm on to you, Venturi." She said as she stared into his eyes with rage.
"On to what, McDonald?" He smiled back as he moved closer to her face.
"Get over here, now!" George yelled.
Casey broke her glare as she groaned and started walking towards the kitchen where the basement awaited them.
* * *
Alone with Casey in the basement for a whole day....What a great punishment! This will hopefully work out to my advantage. Derek thought as he walked behind Casey, grinning from ear to ear.
* * *
Lizzie looked at Edwin as they sat at the top of the stairs, their presence oblivious to everyone else, "I can't believe they actually did it."
"Yeah, and Casey is not happy."
"So why is Derek?" She looked at him confused.
Edwin only shrugged his shoulders, "Beats me." But if Edwin guessed right, Derek was going to try to hit on Casey while they were down there. Now will Casey object or give in? He wasn't sure but if he wanted to win the bet with Lizzie, he hoped the latter. Besides she's only our step-sister, right? So there's really no harm in it... He thought as he stood up and headed downstairs to hear the rest of their punishment from the living room.
So thanks again for the reviews! Please feel free to review some more! Remember, the more reviews, the more sooner I update... And plus it makes me feel good. =D
