#18 – Hurt Me

Casey sat on the edge of the sofa closest to the recliner, where Derek was sitting, staring mindlessly at the TV. They sat in silence for a few moments, watching some infomercial for measuring spoons, and Casey took the opportunity to steal the remote out of his hands, which were surprisingly limp, and changed the channel to a historical documentary. Derek didn't move, didn't even blink.

"What, no argument?" she asked. "No teasing your keener stepsister for watching an educational program?" He didn't even twitch. "Silent treatment? Fine, see if I care."

Every so often, she glanced over at him. His expression was unchanged and the only movement she saw was an occasional blink. For ten minutes, she put up with his general creepiness before she threw the remote on his lap and got up to leave.

"Fine, you win," she said. "You've thoroughly creeped me out."

That night at dinner, the dinner was set for two (the rest of the family being out and about). Casey brought in the food she had warmed up and placed it on the table between her and Derek, who was still staring straight ahead silently.

"This again?" Casey complained. "You're really freaking me out, Derek. Although that's probably your whole plan. "At his stoic response, Casey threw a spoonful of mashed potatoes at him. They landed right on his forehead and he didn't even flinch.

"Derek, come on," Casey said, her voice turning worried. "This isn't funny. Cut it out." She moved to his side of the table and started shaking him. "Derek. Derek! Come on, just...do something!" Her voice was frantic as she desperately tried to evoke a response from his lifeless-like body. "Tease me, push me, I don't care, Derek, just say something!

"Come on, Derek, hurt me!"

Casey's eyes flew open and she sat gasping in her bed. She sat there, frozen, eyes wide, until a few seconds later when her door flew open.

"Case--"

She snapped her head to see Derek balancing himself on her door frame. He was dressed in pajama pants and an old t-shirt, and he seemed out of breath.

"Derek," she whispered, relieved at the sight of a talking, breathing Derek in front of her.

"You OK? I heard screaming."

"Oh, God," Casey groaned, mortified at the thought that he heard too much. "Just a bad dream. Don't worry about it."

"Yeah, OK," he said. "Just don't let it happen again. Some of us actually enjoy sleeping around here."

Casey rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at him. "Whatever. Sorry to disturb your beauty sleep."

He turned to go, and her breathing was returning to normal, when he suddenly said, "I wouldn't hurt you, Case."

She froze and didn't say anything. "I mean, I'll probably mess with you every single day, but not...you know."

"I know." And she did.

They never talked about nightmares again.