A/N: Not much to say really. One chapter after this one. Hope you all like it.
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Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 4: Never going to trust them again
It's been 12 days. 12 days since our parents found out and we still haven't spoken to them. They have tried to call us though. Later that day, after all the fighting, we had a message on our answering machine from them. And no, they didn't know we had a house phone, so they never had a chance to put two and two together. Edwin and Lizzie must have given it to them.
So, while Casey and I were 'busy' they called and left a message. We deleted it as soon as we heard Nora's voice. Neither of us really wanted to hear more yelling so listening to the message was not an option for us. We also felt it would be best to unplug the machine. Besides, if anyone really needed to contact us, we always have our cell phones on.
I would have made a comment about Nora's impeccable timing, calling while we were busy and all. But, I decided against it. I rather enjoy when Casey and I do 'things' and I did not want that taken away because she would have definitely been mad at my comment.
Oh, and our cell phones have a combined total of 72 voice messages. We think all of them are from either my dad or her mom. We haven't listened to any of them, because our phones are stupid and it won't let you delete the message until the entire thing is listened to. And again, we don't want to be yelled at. I'm sure our boxes must be full by now.
We have become rather good at screening our calls.
Heading back to that house was hard for both of us. Actually, I think stepping inside the living room, where not too long ago we were called wrong was the hardest. But Lizzie called Casey, from her cell phone of course, so we would know it was her. She said that our parents would not be home and that they wanted to exchange gifts with us.
Damn it was hard walking though the front door. I know I was jittery, hoping that my father wouldn't just pop out of no where and start screaming. And by the way Casey's eyes are darting around, I'm sure she's worried about the same thing. She even made me drive around the surrounding blocks a bunch of times to make sure their cars weren't in the area.
After a few pleasantries, our younger siblings brought out their gifts for us. Well, Marti did at least. Edwin and Lizzie told us they were originally going to give us a gift card to some store so that we could get things for our apartment. They have been by a couple of times, but they really have no idea what we need, so they figured a gift card would be best.
For some reason, they changed their minds and decided to take us out to eat at some fancy restaurant that Saturday night. Today is Thursday in case you were wondering. They said something along the lines of 'we want to give you guys something nice from the family for a change.'
Casey nudged me and I ran my hand up and down her back. Nope, we don't buy it. I don't think we will ever believe a word they say again.
I know, I know. It's wrong for me to just go into Casey's room, without knocking. It's wrong for me to stomp over to her bed, while she's on it doing her homework. It's wrong for me to snatch the math sheet off her bed, so I can copy it. But what do you want me to say? I like Casey and if this is how I can interact with her, than it's what I'm going to do.
Yes I, Derek Venturi, like my stepsister, Casey MacDonald. And no, it's not in that 'we are now siblings so I feel like I have to like her because she is now my sister.' I already have a sister, and Marti is enough for me. Sure, I do kind of think of Lizzie as a sister, kind of. But there is no way I will ever think of Casey as anything more than a girl. A hot girl.
No, I'm not that shallow either. It's not just that she's hot, which she is, it's that she's the perfect package. She's attractive, kind, intelligent, spirited, has these amazing blue eyes, loves everything, organizes her life, wears pink on an almost daily basis, tough, mean, has soft hair, smell nice . . . yeah, well you get the point. She's perfect.
So, I like her. It's sad, but I can't help myself. We met like 6 months ago. What was I supposed to do? Automatically put her in the same category of Marti? I think not.
Walking out of her room, I can almost count down to when she will explode.
5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . –
"Der-rek!" Damn, I was off by like 2 seconds.
Spinning around, I put my classic smirk on my face. "Yes Case?"
"Give me back my homework!"
I hesitate a moment, pretending like I'm thinking. "Um . . . ok. But only after I copy it."
I went out into the hallway and I heard her bed squeak as she got off it. I smile. I love when she follows me.
"Derek, do your own homework." She tried to grab it, but I held it out of her reach.
"Nah, it'll be easier if I just copy yours."
She glared at me so I backed up against the wall, lifting her homework high above my head. I may like her, but that doesn't mean I have to be nice.
Unfortunately for me, Casey decided she would do anything to get her homework back. Anything includes bringing her body as close to mine as possible, leaning against me to try and reach her math homework. I don't think she knows how much she is torturing me.
Suddenly, if it's even possible, her body came closer to mine, pressing against me even more. Her head quickly turns, mine follows. We see Edwin running down the hall.
"What the hell was that for?" Casey asks. I get it now, he pushed her into me. I don't know if I should thank him or beat him up.
I can tell he is trying to make up an excuse. Although he is my brother, he is not as smooth as me and can never come up with explanations fast enough.
"I . . . uh . . . needed to get downstairs to watch cartoons. Yeah, that's it. Sorry?" Yeah, like I believe him.
Somehow, Casey and I are no longer against the wall, but we are still painfully close. I turn my head to look at her, to see if she buys his bullshit. Suddenly, my head is hit from behind and my forehead collides with Casey's.
"Damn it. What the hell was that?" I ask to no one in particular. I turn to still see Edwin standing there. What happened to his cartoons? Turning more I see a soccer ball roll along the floor and see Lizzie trying her hardest to have an innocent look plastered on her face.
"It slipped?"
Looking up, I see Casey's against the wall, rubbing her forehead with her hand. Something is going on, and by the confused look on her face, she has no idea either.
Turning to face my brother and stepsister, my only stepsister, I glare at them. "Someone better start explaining now or there will definitely be hell to pay."
"We were trying to get you two to kiss already."
I laughed. I was going to be mean. I felt it before I even started to talk. I could kill myself sometimes.
"Like Casey even knows how to kiss."
Let's just say, she proved me wrong. She pushed me against the wall in the hallway and took my breath away.
When she finally pulls away, I open my eyes. I didn't even know I closed them.
Casey just stands there. I could tell she is waiting. What for, I have no idea. She was just trying to prove me wrong. What does she want me to say?
I open my mouth. Nothing. I close my mouth. I think my brain dripped out of my ears.
"Say something Derek."
Again, nothing.
Tears begin to form in her eyes. What could she be crying for? Did she think she was bad?
"Was it really that bad?" Yeah, she does think that. And no, it wasn't. It was perfect.
I try to will myself to say something again. I open my mouth, nothing comes out, so I shut it again. I see only one tear fall down her face before she turns and enters her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
I have no idea how long I am standing there, staring at her door. What the hell just happened? She kissed me and now she's crying? It wasn't bad. What could she be crying for? It's not even like she wanted to kiss me anyway.
"Dude," I hear Edwin say. Turning to look at him and Lizzie, he continues. "She's likes you too man."
My mouth drops open. I guess his little observational studies picked up that I like her. Wait, what? She likes me too? But before I could ask my question, Lizzie speaks up.
"I kind of stole her diary."
I look away from them and stare at her door. Could she really like me? Suddenly, I feel hands push me towards her door. It's now or never I guess.
I barge into her room. Like I would really knock at a time like this. I see Casey standing in front of her desk, visibly shaking from crying. She must think I don't feel the same. Turning towards me, she screams for me to get out. Before I kick the door shut with my foot I tell her no. Grabbing her wrist, I pull her against me.
And right before I kiss her, I hear Lizzie and Edwin from right outside the door. "This is both of your Christmas gift this year from us." And it was the best Christmas gift I got that year.
Marti hands Casey our Christmas gift as I wrap my arm around her waist. I let her open it. She has this really weird thing where she keeps all the wrapping paper to gifts she receives. She always gently unwraps her gifts, so she can put the paper in this shoebox we keep in the back of our closet.
She even keeps the wrapping to my gifts. I'm actually surprised she lets me unwrap my own presents, because I usually destroy the paper.
After carefully peeling the paper back, we see what my little sister decided to bestow upon us this year. Casey turns to me and raises her eyebrow. I shrug my shoulders. It's Marti. What does she expect?
"It's a dictionary." Marti's too cute. She probably thinks we didn't know what it was.
"Thanks Marti. We love it."
Smiling sweetly, it seems that Marti really likes that she gave us a dictionary for Christmas. "It's so you can learn more words." I don't even question her actions anymore.
After giving them their gifts, our younger siblings walk us to the door.
"Don't forget. Saturday at 7:30." Lizzie reminds us. Just as she is about to shut the door, she says "Oh, and wear something nice."
Once we get into the car, I turn to Casey. She reads my mind and answers my question. "No, I do not trust them one bit. But I wonder what they are planning this year."