The Last Conversation: Part II
Chapter Four
Casey was looking forward to going to Excalibur for Jordan's bachelorette party. She was more relieved not to watch Cappie and Natalie for the rest of the night, although Natalie was going to be at the club with them. Shortly after dinner a limo arrived to pick up the girls. Sarah forced a veil on top of Jordan's dark blonde hair. For the occasion, Jordan was wearing a white halter dress that showed off her slim figure. The rest of the girls had been encouraged to wear black, blue, or purple as part of her entourage. Casey was glad she didn't have to change. She was ready to go.
The friends all mimed getting sick at the site of Rusty and Jordan saying good-bye to each other as the girls ushered into the limo and the guys stayed back at the Cartwright's. Casey took a seat between Ashleigh and Rebecca. Jordan was at the center of the group, with Sarah and Natalie beside her. The other ZBZ sisters filled out the rest of the U-shaped seat. Sarah reached for the bottle of champagne nestled in an ice bucket and poured some for everyone.
"A toast to Jordan!" Sarah said smiling at her best friend. "May you always remember this night with your girls. We love you."
Everyone raised their glass and said "To Jordan."
Casey looked at Jordan and smiled. She was thrilled that her brother was marrying such a great person. Jordan was lovely, creative, and funny. She was exactly what Rusty needed. As everyone lowered their glasses, Casey cleared her throat and continued holding her glass in the air. "I want to say something to Jordan," she said, looking at everyone's faces. "Jordan, I couldn't be more thrilled to have you join our family. You may have been my Little Sister at ZBZ, but now it means so much more that you will be my future little sister. I wish you and Rusty a happy life together."
Jordan's eyes watered at Casey's toast. "Thanks Case. It means a lot to me." She reached a hand out and squeezed Casey's hand.
Casey and Jordan's moment ended when Natalie raised her glass in the air. "I'd like to make a toast, too."
Casey could hear Ashleigh groan behind her glass. Casey looked at Ashleigh and rolled her eyes.
"To the lovely Jordan Reed," Natalie said clearly. "Thank you for inviting me out tonight. I feel so proud to be a part of your group. I just hope Cappie and I can be as happy as you and Rusty someday." As Natalie said that last part, she looked at Casey and smirked. She turned her attention back to Jordan. "Your love inspires all of us. To Jordan!"
All the girls raised their glasses to Jordan yet again. Casey was seething. The nerve of that girl, she thought. She could feel Ashleigh give her arm a pat to relax her. Casey normally liked most people that she met, but the instant she met Natalie, she knew there was something about her she didn't like. Casey had rarely known the girl a few hours and here she was competing with her already. She knew that if she said anything about it, most people would assume it was because of Cappie. And Casey had to admit, a part of her didn't like Natalie because of him.
Casey tried not to let her emotions show. In fact she felt a little bit sorry for Natalie because of what happened after dinner. She'd excused herself and run inside the house to go to the bathroom. When she opened the door, Cappie was standing outside. "There's another bathroom in the basement," Casey told him.
"I was looking for you." Cappie said quietly.
"What for? I'm sure Natalie can take care of you." Casey couldn't resist saying.
Cappie's lips tightened. "Look, I'm sorry about what happened out there. I'm sorry that you had to meet Natalie like this. I really wanted tonight to be with just you guys."
"Why don't you tell her that?" Casey asked. "Why stand here and tell me about it?"
"Casey, we're not really doing this are we?" Cappie asked with a sigh.
Casey shrugged. "Do what?"
"I know you. You're upset about Natalie, aren't you?" Cappie asked, looking into her eyes. He came close to her. "You're the reason why I didn't want to bring her to the wedding."
"What made you change your mind?" Casey challenged, staring up at him, her hands on her hips.
"I don't know. Fear. Rejection. Stupidity." Cappie said. "Knowing that you were going to be here this weekend gave me some sense of hope."
Casey looked at him with confusion. "Cappie, what are you trying to say here?"
"Maybe I'm saying too much." Cappie said.
"Like what?" Casey asked, this time her tone softening.
"I don't know," Cappie said with a shrug. "Perhaps I wish I was single. Maybe I'm not over you at all. " Cappie leaned his head down towards Casey and whispered. "The fact that I've been wanting to kiss you since I laid eyes on you tonight."
Casey put a hand on Cappie's chest to stop him. "As great as all of this sounds, I can't do this with you."
Cappie put a hand of top of Casey's and rubbed the back of it. "Why not?"
"Cappie, this is exactly what I don't want. We had the chance to be together when we were both single at the same time and you ruined it. Now, you want me when you have someone else. I just don't want to keep repeating this habit of ours. Last year, we did this to Derek and it wasn't right. I can't do this." Casey told him with exasperation. "Besides, what happened to keeping things casual between us? I haven't even been back four hours and we're already at this again."
"I just don't understand what you want, Case." Cappie said. "If you don't feel the same way, then why act jealous of Natalie?"
Casey reached up and put a hand on Cappie's cheek. "Of course I feel the same way. For the past 10 months, I've been miserable missing you every day. I really thought things were for real this time. I gave it my all, Cap. And you couldn't even last two months before you slept with someone else. How could you do that to me?" Casey could feel tears stinging her eyes.
Cappie hung his head with a sad look on his face. "I was stupid. There's no excuse I can give you. Trust me I have regrets. I'm not going to try and justify my actions to you. You deserve better than that." Cappie lifted Casey's chin up with his finger, sending shivers down Casey's back. The touch was so delicate. "Case, I've missed you, too."
Before Casey could respond, they heard movement coming from the hallway and the intimate moment they shared was over. Casey gave him a small smile, "To be continued," she told him as she turned around and headed back towards the backyard. She heard Cappie call her name, but she ignored him. She had to get back outside before she started crying.
Casey shook her head of the thoughts and concentrated on her friends around her. She felt Rebecca nudge her. "Everything okay?" Rebecca asked.
Casey gave her a smile. "I'm fine."
Rebecca looked at her trying to decide if there was more to what Casey was thinking. "So, you're honestly not bothered by Natalie."
Casey shrugged. "I guess we have all weekend to find out."
"I'm here if you need to talk, Case," Rebecca told her. "About anything."
"Trust me, there's nothing to talk about. Let's just focus on having fun tonight." Casey said excitedly. "I'm ready to let loose and dance the night away."
Rebecca laughed. "Sounds like a plan."
The limo stopped all of a sudden and the driver came out and opened the door for them. As Casey walked into Excalibur with her friends, she tried to forget everything that happened earlier with Cappie. She would have a great time tonight, flirt with some guys, and dance her butt off. She wasn't going to let Cappie or Natalie ruin her weekend.
As Cappie kissed Natalie good-bye and the girls got in the limo, he looked for Casey. He couldn't believe all that he had revealed to her. He was trying to play it cool, but he couldn't help himself. As soon as he had seen Casey, all the feelings he had pushed aside came running back. It just felt right with her around him. As great as Natalie was, the feelings he had for her didn't compare to what he felt for Casey.
When he noticed Casey get up earlier and head into the house, he wanted to get her alone so he could talk to her. Cappie thought back to the moment they shared outside the bathroom. She'd look so beautiful and vulnerable in front of him. More strands of her hair had come undone from her up-do and he was so tempted to reach up and tuck them in for her. He was a fool and he knew it.
He wanted to kiss her so badly but Casey stopped him. At first it annoyed him, but then she put it all into perspective and he had to admit, she had a point. It would've been wrong for them to kiss and to pursue anything with one another while he had Natalie in his life. He knew what he had to do. It would make him an ass, but he didn't want to continue another second without Casey in his life. He would have to break up with Natalie. She was fun and all, but she certainly wasn't Casey Cartwright.
Then Cappie groaned as he thought about what he'd told Natalie earlier. He had made a sleepover date with her for tonight. Then it would be at his place that he'd break things off with her. He didn't want to bring her to the wedding, especially with Casey there. He was telling Casey the truth earlier. He hadn't wanted to bring Natalie because he was hoping he and Casey could rekindle things. It was all so messed up as he thought about it. He couldn't think of a time when he and Casey just had an easy time being together. There was always so much drama involved. Well, except for Thanksgiving their senior year when they'd gotten back together. It had been a smooth transition for them. He just hoped Casey would give him another shot once he broke things off with Natalie.
He knew all the things he said to Casey about keeping things casual, giving his relationship with Natalie a shot, and being friends were thrown out the window. He thought he could resist Casey, but the longer he was in her presence, he couldn't help himself. He was too much of a sucker for her gorgeous face, her soft hair, her toned arms and legs, and beautiful body. Besides Casey's physical looks, he loved that she could be one of the guys and she had a great sense of humor. He was falling for her all over again. And this time she wasn't going back to Manhattan single or alone, he'd make sure of that.
A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews. I appreciate it. I think the reviews give me the adrenaline to keep going. :) Thanks for some of the suggestions to the story...some of you may be surprised to learn that we think alike. So Fanovurs - stayed tuned for it :) Yes, I know this story is so angsty - but who doesn't love angst once in a while? As always, thanks for reading and the reviews. I look forward to seeing what you all think. ~Dee
