Title La Fille Danse
Rating PG-13--I lied about the M thing. I'll move it up later. Sorry 'bout that.
Notes/Warnings/Kinks Some cussing, but I think that's it for this chapter. Sorry if this one sucks--I've been sick all week and this was all I could really get out. Next chapter will be better...hopefully.
Pairing Derek/OFC, mentioned Casey/Sam
"Alright, look, Edwin. This is called Operation: Don't Let Sam Get the Girl. Got it?"
Edwin nods, sitting on Derek's bed, staring at the dry erase board in front of him, "So Sam's going after a girl you want?"
The older Venturi shakes his head furiously, spinning around in his swivel chair, "No, no, no. We just…don't want him with her. Understand?"
A big smile crosses the younger one's face, "Ye—no. Why does it matter if Sam gets with this girl?"
Hell, Derek doesn't even know. How is he supposed to explain this to Edwin?
"Well, you see, Edwin, it's quite simple. I'm obsessed with this girl. There's nothing really special about her to be obsessed about—she's not outrageously hot or smart or funny. She's just normal. But I can't stop watching her. I can't stop, Edwin! I don't like her. I just…I just need her to be…without Sam, that's all."
Yeah, that'd blow over real well.
"Because…Sam and I have a competition. I'll split the profits with you, 50/50. Deal?"
Now Edwin is smiling a genuine smile, nodding as he shakes Derek's hand, "Deal."
She's laughing when she opens the door, but that quickly calms down to somewhat of a frown, "Derek—what do you want?"
"Hi to you, too, Jo. Is Casey here?"
"Johanna? Who's there? Is it Jabari?" Casey's giggle echoes throughout the apartment, and Derek steps in, pushing past Johanna's arm that had previously guarded the entrance into her home.
"Jabari? What, is he like…your boyfriend or something?" He can only pray she doesn't sense his disappointment.
"Uh…no. Jabari is my brother and legal guardian. He's dropping in from Kenya."
"Kenya?" Derek plops down on her couch, amused at the image of Jo in a track team sweatshirt and blue plaid pajama pants not too much unlike his own. "You just have family everywhere, don't cha?"
"Jabari is my only family," She explains calmly, folded her arms across her chest. Derek hears Casey sigh in the bathroom, and smells something that's oddly familiar to smoke, "He raised me between the states and Germany until this summer, when his job took him to Kenya. He was afraid it would be too dangerous for me, so he put me in the 'safest place he saw fit.'"
"Here?"
"Yeah," Jo sighs, looking around her apartment, "Here."
Derek waits a moment, then stands up, "Well, that's quite the Cinderella tale and all, but where is Casey? Nora wants me to bring her home."
That's only half true. Nora wants Casey home. She never said Derek had to go and get her. But, what are children with cars for, right?
"I'll be out in a minute, Derek!" Casey shouts, agitation nipping at her voice, "I want to see Jabari first."
Derek rolls his eyes, sitting back down, "Just don't take for-fucking-ever, alright, Klutz?" Then, he turns his attention back to Johanna, "How old is this dude anyway? Fifty or sixty something?"
"Fifty something? I'm starting to feel far too old at such a young age!" It's a thick, thick African accent, and a young, very dark-skinned black man steps through the door.
"Jabbi!" The man drops his stuff in order to hug Johanna, who rushes to him and throws her arms around his broad shoulders.
Casey emerges from the bathroom, hair in a wild mess of curls and a big smile plastered on her face. For a fleeting moment, Derek wonders what the fuck is so great about this guy and why don't people treat him like that when he comes home?
"Hallo, Casey. It is nice to see you again." Jabari hugs Casey, and Derek's sure his own eye twitches. "Now, I don't believe you've introduced me to this young fellow, Nahna."
Nahna. What a…cute…nick name. He scowls internally.
"Oh!" Johanna pulls Derek from the couch, her fingers practically burning his skin when they make contact, "Derek, this is my brother, Jabari. Jabari, this is…Casey's brother, Derek."
"Derek," The man nods, shaking his hand, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Yeah, same." He tries to be polite with his smile and stuff, but he's seething with jealousy and a little perturbed by the fact that this guy is so fucking great and why the fuck can't Derek be that great?!
"I'm only 31, Derek," Jabari says with a full, deep laugh that actually sounds comforting.
"Nifty. Anywho, Case—you ready?"
His step-sister sighs, "Yeah, yeah, Derek. See you tomorrow, Johanna. It was nice to see you again, Jabari!"
"Oh, you too, Casey. Have a nice night, huh?"
Casey nods, "You too. Bye!"
She's out the door before he is.
"Fuck this. Look, Jo, I told you—I don't know what you're saying. That's why you're supposed to be tutoring me." Derek's starring at his latest quiz and the giant 14 circle at the top.
Fourteen out of one hundred points. It's so sad that it makes Derek sick.
"I'm fucking trying to, Derek!"
"Oh really?" His eyes widen and his head cocks to the side as Johanna stands from the ground, walking toward the kitchen, "Because it doesn't fucking look like—"
"Wanna know why it doesn't fucking 'look like it,' Derek?" She whips around and shouts back, nose flared and arms sprawled out at her sides, "Because you can't fucking pay attention! Get some goddamn Ritalin and then maybe we'll get somewhere!"
"Let's not pass judgment here, little miss multi-lingual! If you would stop going so fucking fast and stop getting so goddamn upset when I don't understand things then maybe I could pay attention!"
The whole fight starts out over nothing. Johanna was moving a little too fast, it's true, but Derek could have kept up if he kept his attention focused. It's just when Jo starts shouting in French or German or even English that Derek gets upset. If he knew what the hell she was saying and knew how to shout back, maybe he wouldn't be upset.
But he doesn't, so he is.
Johanna walks to the door, opening it and grabbing her coat as she sighs, "Come on."
"What?"
Tugging her head toward the open door, she repeats herself, "Come on."
"Where are we going?" Despite the question, Derek stands and follows her to the door. She pushes him in the hallway, and he keeps walking, not looking back to see her lock the door.
"Just go."
