A/N: Thanks for the great feedback and reviews you guys
A/N: Thanks for the great feedback and reviews you guys! It really means a lot to me. I wasn't sure if anyone would really like this story but I am glad you do and you know what, I am actually having a lot of fun writing it. And if you can tell me where the line "You know how I know? You've apologized four-hundred and thirty times" (picture a very pencil-possessive Johnny Depp) I'll give you a whole batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies!!
Chapter Three
"I'm sorry," Hannah said for about the twentieth time that afternoon. Derek didn't respond, instead her grunted. Hannah noticed his hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were an ethereal white, "Honest, I am. I shouldn't have come. All because of me you were late to practice. All because of me you had to run laps! It's all my fault and I'm sorry!"
"Shut up," Derek spat, "Just shut up!"
Hannah sighed and looked out the window. Maybe coming was a mistake. It was clear that Derek didn't want her or anything to do with her or her mother. Maybe this whole plan was just a stupid mistake and she should return home and just let Derek go on with his life.
"I'll call a taxi when we get home. I'll have them drive me to the airport and I can catch a flight back to New York. I…I'll be out of your hair in no time."
"Good," Derek said, not taking his eyes off the road, "But you're not gonna be able to get a flight on such short notice. Tomorrow morning though. I'll get you a ticket for tomorrow morning."
"First thing."
"First thing."
It was almost a relief for Hannah knowing that she would no longer be a bother to the strange man whose life she had interrupted.
"It was nice getting to meet you, Derek," Hannah said softly as if testing the waters, nervous he'd explode again.
"Wish I could say the same for you," his voice was cold and Hannah didn't say anything until they reached the apartment. When they got up to Derek's, she stood in the doorway as Derek tossed his gym bag to the side, "Come on," he instructed, "Let's see about that plane ticket."
"Derek…I really am sorry."
"I know you're sorry! You know how I know? You've apologized four-hundred and thirty times!"
Hannah's face fell and Derek decided it was probably best if he would stop yelling at her and just leave her alone. He had probably already made her feel bad. The more he thought about it, the more and more remorse he felt. He probably shouldn't have said that bit about wishing he could say the same about meeting her. Here she was, his daughter or not, and all she wanted was a day with him. A single day with the father she never knew! And how did he repay her? He yelled at her, blamed her, and now was kicking her out of his home. Derek glanced over at her and saw her big blue eyes filling with tears. Oh shit, Derek thought to himself, now look what you've done, Venturi! She's gonna start crying! Those blue eyes are already filling with tears just like Hers used to. You got to do something!
"Hey," Derek turned to her, "Um, there's this place not far from here. It's called the Downtown Aquarium. There's a Ferris Wheel and carnival games and a restaurant with this humongous fish tank three stories high going through the middle of the restaurant. It's a pretty awesome place to go and…and I was wondering if you wanted to go tonight. If you didn't already have plans," Derek shrugged.
"I'd love to!" Hannah's eyes lit up, "If…if you don't already have plans."
"I'm Canada's hottest hockey star. I have tons of girls that love me, tons of guys that want to be me, and tons of people who want me at their parties. Of course I already have plans – I always have plans – but they aren't anything I can't break," Derek fought the urge to grin at the little girl as she jumped up and down.
"Thank you, Derek! Thank you!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Derek rolled his eyes, "Don't get all worked up. Just get yourself fixed up. I leave in an hour."
--
It sat there on the highest hook. It's little sewn on smirk toyed with him, mocked him and his inability to knock the pin down. Its fuzzy purple exterior was a mere decoy to its dark and pure evilness hidden deep within the fuzz and fluffing. Derek glared at it as he pulled his arm back and released the ball. The pin fell. Hannah squealed and clapped her hands together excitedly.
"Alright buster," the acne-ridden teen behind the booth smirked, "Which one will it be."
"The purple monkey," Derek replied, rolling his eyes, "It's for her."
"Uh-huh," the teenager nodded sarcastically, "And I'm this guy's uncle," he nodded towards the monkey, "Have a good day sir. Enjoy your monkey!"
"God damn kid!" Derek mumbled as he thrust the monkey out to Hannah who hugged it tightly.
"Thank you so much, Derek!" She smiled up at him, vowing to treasure her monkey – the only gift her father had ever given her.
"Yeah well that monkey cost me fifty bucks and a hurt shoulder so you better love that thing."
"I do!"
"Now what do you want to do now?" Derek asked, "I'm opting for dinner at the restaurant."
"Okay. That sounds good to me," Hannah replied, hugging the monkey tightly to her as Derek led her over to the restaurant. Within twenty minutes they were seated. As the hostess led them up a flight of stairs, Hannah ogled at the humongous aquarium going up the three flights. It was filled with fish and water and eels and sand and rocks and everything you'd find in the ocean.
"This is our world-famous fish tank. It has over two hundred gallons of pure saltwater in it as well as fifty different species of ocean life. Everything from eels to sea turtles to clown fish, you'll find it here. We feed our fish once a day and filter the water three times a week," the hostess said her scripted line, "Now, if you'd come right this way, you're able is ready. Is this okay?" The hostess asked as she nodded towards a table next to a smaller aquarium filled with sea horses.
"This is fine," Derek said, smiling at the hostess as she handed them their menus, "So kid, what do you think about this place?"
"It's amazing!" Hannah replied breathlessly, "I love it!"
"Glad to hear it. Now, they have a kids menu here. It has chicken finger, coconut shrimp, popcorn shrimp, and catfish. Which one do you want?"
"Coconut shrimp."
"Okay, what do you want for a side? There's apple sauce or carrot sticks."
"Um…carrot sticks are healthier. I'll have those."
"Just like your mother," Derek rolled his eyes, "Okay, anything to drink?"
"Um…a Sprite."
"Good choice," Derek nodded as he looked over the menu. Before long, a waitress approached the table with a smile as fake as her bleached hair.
"Hello," she said, "I'm Kandice. I'll be serving you today. What would you like to drink?"
"Well Kandice, I'll have a beer and the kid here will have a Sprite."
"Okay…" she said as she jotted it down on the slip of paper, "And do you need more time to decide on what to eat."
"No. I'll have the Seaman's Platter and she'll have the coconut shrimp with carrots. And for dessert, I think we'll both have the Triple Chocolate cake."
"Okay. You're drinks will be out in a sec."
"Triple Chocolate cake?" Hannah asked, her eyes wide.
"Yup. Chocolate cake with chocolate fudge, chocolate chips served under vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate sauce on top."
"Thank you, Derek!"
"For what?" Derek asked.
"For tonight. This is the best night of my whole life!"
Derek was about to say something although he didn't know exactly what. Just when he had opened his mouth, the waitress had returned with their drinks.
"Straws?"
"Yes," Derek nodded and she handed him two straws. Derek handed one to Hannah and kept one for himself. He tore off the top of the straw wrapper and put the straw to his lips and blew the paper across the table so that hit Hannah.
"Hey!" She glared at him but her eyes were smiling.
"What?" Derek shrugged innocently.
"Grow up," Hannah said, rolling her eyes.
"Hey!" Her shot her a look, "I'm Derek Venturi. I can do what I want!"
"Yes and I am Hannah Venturi and I can tell you to act your age but…" She picked up her straw and blew the wrapper at Derek, "I'm eight. So that means I can act like it."
"Oh, you're dead!" Derek glared playfully at her.
"What are you gonna do about it, Venturi?"
--
Derek looked at the little girl in his arms. She had fallen asleep in the car and, instead of waking her, he decided to carry her up to the apartment. She looked so calm, so peaceful. Derek couldn't help but smile down at her as he placed her in his bed. He knew he had said it was off-limits but he couldn't just force her on the couch. Derek pulled the covers up to her chin and even found himself kissing her on the forehead.
"Night, kid," Derek grinned as he turned off the light.
After putting Hannah to bed, Derek sat down on the couch with Chevy and unwrapped the rubber band from the cards. He picked up the first one. It was dated at the top December 10th 20011. That had been his nineteenth birthday.
"Dear Derek, I don't know if I'll ever make it to the mailbox with this to tell you the truth. I don't think I have the courage to send this. After the way we left things, you probably don't want anything to do with me but I just wanted to write to you even if I won't send this, and get my feelings out. The truth is, Derek, I went to the doctor today. I…I'm pregnant. I don't know what to do right now and I am a little scared. Mom said I should give up the baby but I can't. I know it'll be hard but I'm willing to take care of her. I'm willing to keep her and raise her but she needs a father. I've debated this for awhile and I still don't know what to do. It might be best if you never find out about the baby. I mean, you are so focused on your hockey, having a kid will to think about will only take away from your dream. Being with me was taking the dream away too, that's why I left. I know you think it's because I overreacted after a fight but that wasn't it. Truth was, I felt like I was holding you back. You have so much going for you, Derek and I was just in the way. That's why I left. I miss you like hell, Derek Venturi but I can never return to you. It'll just mess up your game plan. And you have worked so hard on that game plan. Anyways, keep the baby in your prayers. Love, Casey."
Derek looked down at the card. She had thought she was in the way of his dream? Derek blinked back a tear as the memories of the single night came flooding back to him.
"Look Case, I can't go to your Dad's with you because I have practice that weekend. I know he's getting remarried and all and you want me to be there but I just can't! I need to go to practice or we'll never win our games! The fate of the team is on my shoulders, Case!"
"Derek all you ever think about is hockey! I need you with me for this! I can't go alone!"
"Lizzie will be there. And Ed."
"But you won't be! Derek, you are my rock, and you keep me in shape when the world is crumbling around me and now…now you won't even be there when I need you!"
"I want to be there but I can't. Look, if I'm ever going to make it pro, I need to practice. The team is counting on me and there will be scouts from the big leagues there!"
"But I need you!"
"You always need me!"
"Derek…tell me something. Why did you even ask me to be your girl friend?"
"Because I love you."
"You love hockey. Not me, Derek."
"Case, we are eighteen! We are far too young for anything serious. I need to think about hockey."
"I thought we were serious. You…you said we were serious when we slept together!"
"Yeah…"
"Derek Venturi, tell me that wasn't just a line to get in my pants!"
"It wasn't. I swear. I thought I was serious about you, Case. I thought we really could have something – and we can! – but hockey has to come first."
"You…you said you wanted to spend forever with me!"
"And I do. But hockey…"
"It's always hockey, Derek. I…I can't do this, Derek. I'm leaving."
"What? Case…don't do this," Derek said as he followed her into her bedroom.
"I have to, Derek. I know Mom and George wanted us to rent this apartment together so they wouldn't have to pay for two but you're just going to have to find another roomie, Derek. I…I have to leave."
"Where will you go? You're whole life is here!"
"I'll go to New York and live with my dad."
"College?"
"I'll transfer to NYU. I just can't keep doing this Derek. I need to get away from you."
"You don't have to move to New York to get away from me…damn it Casey put the suitcase away."
"It isn't just this, Derek. I've been wanting to leave for a long time. I…I've thought long and hard about it and this is what I have to do."
"No…you're just worked up. Stay here tonight and in the morning everything will be fine. We'll be fine."
"We aren't fine, Derek. Can't you see that?" She asked as she slammed the suitcase shut, "We aren't fine."
"Case…"
"Let me go, Derek," Casey snapped, wheeling the suitcase to the apartment door, "Let me go."
"I…I love you."
"You love hockey, Derek. I can't be second best in your life."
"Casey…I am in love with you. I'll marry you!"
"We're eighteen Derek."
"I'll marry you if it'll make you stay."
"Nothing will make me stay, Derek. I'm leaving."
"Just do me one thing."
"What?"
"If you are gone, really be gone. Don't come back, Casey. I can't take it if I lose you and you come back and put me through all this again. If you really are going, really go. I…I won't take you back."
"I never said I wanted you to," Casey sighed as she gave him a quick kiss goodbye, "I never said I wanted you to take me back. Goodbye Derek Venturi. I wish you all the best."
"Goodbye, Casey. I wish you all the best too."
The memory was engraved into his mind. It haunted him every night and every hour of the day he thought of her. She had walked out of his life and he hadn't seen her since. She had basically isolated herself from the Venturis and now he knew why – she thought she was in the way of his dream. Derek cursed under his breath. Casey McDonald could never be in the way of his dream for one reason only: she was his dream. His dream that could never and would never come true.
A/N: REMEMBER: if you can tell me where the line "You know how I know? You've apologized four-hundred and thirty times" (picture a very pencil-possessive Johnny Depp) I'll give you a whole batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies!!
