A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update I wasn't able to get to a computer this weekend. As I said in the beginning I aged Casey, Derek, Lizzie and Edwin, but I am keeping Marti at around the same age. I need her childlike innocence later in the story :)
Also I think that now I have established Casey's Story I am going to incorporate Derek's POV more. I hope it doesn't get confusing and you like it!
CHAPTER 7
Derek
I am in my room getting dressed in a suit, a suit! I don't do suits; I see Casey smiling at me in my mind, I can do suits.
It has been four days since I met Casey McDonald, but I couldn't be more in love with her if I had known her for twenty years. When I stayed at Casey's house and she let me into her world it was very scary for me. I have never liked a girl so much that I was willing to be there when they needed someone to let them cry; my chest starts to ache at the memory of her whole body shaking with sobs, I need to hold on to the wall for a minute.
I steady myself and look in the mirror, I had to borrow a suit from my dad; the one in my closet doesn't for me anymore, that's how long it's been since I've worn a suit. It smells like lawyer; but I make it look good.
"Good God, are you really doing this?" I look over at Edwin standing in my doorway. I roll my eyes at him, "Doing what?" "Taking some girl's sister to a dance," "She's not some girl Edwin," I says fixing the collar on the jacket. "I really like her," Edwin looks at me with a puzzled look, "Wow," I nod my head at him and he leaves.
I put my shoes on and go downstairs to the kitchen, my dad has his back to me at the stove, I clear my throat. He looks at me and his eyes widen, "Looking sharp son," he says with a whistle. Edwin shakes his head, "What?" "You know what," he says sitting at the counter next to me.
"So, is this getting serious?" my dad asks putting a piece of chicken on a plate and then handing it to me. "I could see it getting serious," my dad looks at me for a while, ages, he smiles. "When can we meet this wonderful girl who has made my son wear a suit? And to take her sister to a dance?" Edwin starts laughing, I elbow him in the gut and he chokes on his chicken for a second. "Yeah, yeah, Casey is going too. Her dad is M.I.A. and her sister feels bad so I thought I would take her." "Well, I am impressed. You better hold on to this one," My dad beams at me. "I intend to," and I can't stop the smile from reaching my lips, and I don't want to. What has this girl done to me?
"Smerek!" I turn around to brace for Marti who is running at me full speed. I reach down and scoop her up and twirl around with her, she giggles and pretends to push me away. My Smarti. "Hey Smarts," I say tickling her. "Are you going to see your girlfriend?" She whisper yells in my ear, I spin her around one more time and set her on the chair I was on. "Yeah," I say smoothing her hair. "I want to meet her, Smerek." She says with a pouty face and crossing her arms. "Soon, Smarti."
"So about this sister of hers," Edwin says, "She's too good for you," I tell him and pat his head. He bats it away and I pretend to punch him in the arm. I look over at my dad, "I'll be meeting them at Sam's house, and I'll probably stay there tonight." My dad raises an eyebrow, "At Sam's house," his face relaxes and he nods his head.
I get to Sam's house and go inside, Sam and Emily are sitting on the couch together, their legs a twisted mess. It is still so weird to see them together. Emily looks at me and whistles, I sit next to them on the couch. They both turn, Emily looks at me; this girl has always been able to read me. "Spill it," she says letting go of Sam's hand. "Spill what?" I ask confused. "About Casey, What's going on here?" "I like her." I say trying to avert my eyes but Emily's stare won't let me look away. "Mmm hmm," she says. "What?" I ask getting nervous. "Just say it out loud, you'll feel better." I sit there for a second looking at her, she isn't going to drop this. I let out a defeated groan, "Alright, I love her. Happy now?" Emily smiles and turns back to the TV, Sam however can't seem to look away from me, "Wow," he says.
Casey
After I help Lizzie with her hair I follow her downstairs, mom is at the door and starts snapping pictures effectively blinding us with the flash, I put my hand over my eyes "Mom! Enough already." Lizzie says. "I'm sorry, but you girls look so pretty," Mom says starting to tear up. Lizzie gives an impatient sigh. "They'll be more dances mom," I say slowly taking her camera from her and setting it on the counter.
"So is your boyfriend…." She pauses waiting for me to fill in the blank. "… Derek." I say. She smiles. "Derek, is he picking you up?" Her smile brightens. "No, we're meeting him at his friend's house." I say fixing my dress. "When are you going to let me meet him?" she says tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, "I don't know mom, it's still new." She nods her head
We pull up to the address that Derek gave me and walk to the door, I am just about to knock when a breathless Derek opens the door. "Ready?" he says grabbing me hand and dragging me to the car, I stop walking. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" I say gesturing back to the door where a boy and girl stand. Derek sighs and we walk back to the house.
"Casey, this is Sam and Emily; Sam, Emily this is Casey and her sister Lizzie." Lizzie steps forward and shakes their hands, I do the same when it's my turn. The girl, Emily smiles warmly at me. "Nice to meet you Casey." "Nice to meet you," I say returning her smile. Derek huffs and grabs my hand. "Alright, see you later." I look back at Emily who is waving, "You crazy kids have fun!" She shouts from the door. "Yes, mommy." Derek calls over his shoulder.
Derek opens the door me Lizzie and I, I let him drive us to the hotel where Lizzies dance is being held.
We walk inside, music is playing and food is everywhere. I look around the room and in typical junior high fashion boy are on one side of the room and girls are on the other, no one is dancing. Derek holds his hand out to Lizzie, she takes it and he kisses my check and leads her to the middle of the room. When the boys and girls see that they're dancing boys slowly start to wonder over to the girls and take their hands and lead them to the dance floor.
After two songs a boy touches Derek's shoulder and cuts in, I have never seen Lizzie smile so big in her life. Derek grabs my hand and twirls me to the middle of the floor, it's a slow song so he holds me close; I close my eyes and listen to his heart beating. I look up at him and he smiles, I kiss his lips softly. "I think I love you, Derek Venturi," I say winking at him, he smiles. "I think I love you too, Casey McDonald." He kisses my nose and then my mouth.
At the end of the dance all of the coaches remind the kids that there will be a game next Friday, and then it's time to leave.
When we get out to the car Derek says that he'll take us out for dessert. He pulls into the lot of the small diner where we met, I squeeze his hand.
We get our dessert, mine a hot fudge sundae, Lizzie just a simple ice cream cone and Derek gets a banana split; We sit and listen to Lizzie tell us about all of the boys she danced with and a few of the girls she met. Some of the boys and girls she met will be going to school with her in the fall and that a few of the girls invited her to go to the mall with them tomorrow. I see something move out of the corner of my eye, I look up and see a beautiful statuesque blonde standing at the end of our table. I look at her, she is staring daggers at Derek. I look to my right and try to make eye contact with him, but he is staring at the blonde girl like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Hi Derek, haven't seen you in a while," she says sweetly, then she looks at me and then back to Derek. "Flavor of the week?" she asks gesturing to me. I look over to Derek who is about to speak before the blonde cuts him off. "Listen, when Derek," she says his name with venom. "Breaks your heart, you can call me, we have a support group." She looks back to Derek and then back to me, "Maybe we could be friends," She forces a smile and then walks briskly out of the diner.
I look up at Lizzie who is staring out the window. My face is on fire, I feel so embarrassed. I look to Derek who looks at me dumbfounded.
I decide to drive, the ride is long and silent. I pull up to my house and Lizzie gets out. "Tell mom I'll be home after I drop Derek off," Lizzie nods and thanks Derek for tonight. "No problem, kiddo." He says trying to smile at her.
We drive to Sam's house in a strained silence, I pull into the drive way and kill the engine. "Casey," Derek whispers, I snap my head in his direction and he jumps a little. "So is this how it's going to be? I know you have a past when it comes to girls and I'm ok with that," I look into his eyes, "I am however, not ok with your past walking over and insulting me." Derek reaches for my hand and I let him take it, I want to be mad at him, I want to be mad at him so bad. I look into his eyes and it just melts away.
"Casey, I have done a lot of stupid things when it comes to girls. I haven't always treated them right, I wish I would have, it might make things easier on you. I'm sorry that I haven't been the greatest when it comes to dealing with girls, and I'm sorry that my mistakes are now effecting you now." He kisses my hand and looks into my eyes. "I love you, Casey."
I can't breathe for a second, this is the first time he has said he loves me without using the protection of saying 'I think' first. And suddenly my world is falling apart, I can't breathe and I can't speak. Why did he have to go and fall in love with me? Why did I let myself fall in love with him? This is going to end badly and one of us is going to get hurt.
Derek brushes the tears off of my face, I didn't even know I was crying. "What's wrong?" he asks holding my face. I look down and whisper the words I never wanted to say to a boy- "I love you too." And that brings on another round of sobbing. Derek puts is hand under my chin and forces me to look at him. "Is loving me really that terrible?" he asks unable to mask the hurt in his voice. "Yes! Don't you understand Derek? Love never works, one of us is going to get hurt here," Derek grabs me and squeezes me in his arms tightly. "Just because things didn't work with your parent's doesn't mean that you can't be happy." He loosens his hold on me and holds both of my hands. "I just love you so much already Derek, and that absolutely terrifies me!" I choke out. "Casey, don't you think that this is scary for me too? I have never had a girlfriend that I could actually see myself for longer than a week," "We've only known each other for four days." I say with a laugh, Derek wipes my cheeks. "I know that Casey; you're the only girl that I can't see myself without. Even when I was with other girls I couldn't wait to just go hang out with my friends; you're all I need right now." He says kissing my hands and then my lips. "I'm sorry, this is all so new to me. I never intended for this to happen," I say, he turns his head away from me slightly. I grab his chin and turn his head to face me. "But I'm glad it's happening with you." I kiss him and we hold each other for a long time.
My phone vibrates in my purse, "That's probably my mom, I should go." Derek nods and holds my face and kisses me, he puts his forehead on mine and looks into my eyes. "I love you," he says with a steady voice. "I love you too,"
I walk into the house and my mother is waiting for me in the kitchen. "So how was it? Lizzie seemed to have had fun," "It was great mom, but I'm tired, I'll see you tomorrow ok?" she smiles at me and gives me a hug and kisses the top of my head.
I go up to my room and lay on my bed, not bothering to change my clothes. My phone beeps next to my head on the pillow, I flip it open. "Goodnight, princess." "I love you." I send back. "I love you too."
Whew getting heavy here! I hope I can get the next chapter up by tomorrow. Please review! And thank you to the few people who are following this story, you guys rock!
