There's a bit of a time lapse here! The last chapter ended with Derek on the phone with Sam at his house, but this one goes back to that day at lunch! Don't worry we are back on track by the end of the chapter! Lol.
XXXX
"Stop looking at me like that!" I scowl at Emily as she smirks at me from across the lunchroom table.
"You Like-"
"Who does Casey like? Max asks as he sits down next to me looking rightfully curious. Emily smiles politely at him and looks over to me expectedly, but I refuse to give her the satisfaction.
"My wonderful handsome boyfriend." I bat my eyelashes and give Max an extra passionate kiss ignoring that someone else's image pops into my head.
"So how's your day been going?" I ask.
"Okay I guess, hey can you copy my math notes next period? I'm really having trouble concentrating today."
Emily throws Max an extremely appalled look, which he of course misses. I look at him for a second then tell him okay.
"Great thanks, I'll get them from you after class." He pecks me on the cheek and walks away toward his football buddies. Emily leans forward.
"I didn't realize how much of a jerk Max was. Good thing you're going to break up him soon huh?"
"What makes you think I'm going to break up with Max?"
"Casey, he treats you like his slave, you can't tell me you like that, besides you obviously have your mind on other things." Emily smirks again. I sigh
"Emily, I don't like Derek. And even if I do have a teeny little crush," I emphasize the teeny part by bringing my pointer finger and thumb about a centimeter apart, "It's only because of this stupid prank and it's bound to go away if I just ignore it."
"You're in denial Casey, and even if you don't believe you like Derek you can't deny that all your flirting has made him conjure up some feelings for you."
I have to admit I wasn't expecting this. It never occurred to me that Derek Venturi could ever like me, but hearing Emily say it, it made a lot of sense. I stared at her for a second opened mouthed and looked over at Derek to where he was sitting alone. He seemed really bothered about something. A feeling of guilt washed over me as I realized that some of his problem probably has to do with me. For about two seconds I think about going over to him and just spilling my guts about everything, the prank, the feelings I've been having lately. Everything. I look over at Emily and sigh.
"Emily why do you have to be right so much?" She smiled sympathetically.
"Call me later and tell me how the break up goes."
--
I walk in the door and I can hear Derek yelling at someone upstairs. I thought it was best to leave him alone so I put down my stuff and call Max on my cell phone. I know calling someone to break up is horrible but I just want to get this over with somewhere I know I won't embarrass myself if I start to cry. At first Max is so sweet I start to think breaking up with him isn't such a good idea after all. But then we get to the math notes I forgot to copy for him, he starts to freak out, we have a very heated argument and eventually he ends up breaking up with me. I hang up the phone, I try to hold back my tears until I get into my room, I know how much Derek can't stand crying, but as I walk past Derek's room I see him banging his head on his desk.
OOOO
I can still hear Sam laughing as I continue to bang my head, but then someone catches my head.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?" Casey demands as she pushes me into a sitting position. Sam's laughing stops but I know he hasn't hung up otherwise he wouldn't have anything to torture me with later. I roll my eyes and groan. Just the person I wanted to see.
"Great it's you." I go to bang my head again but Casey catches it again and brings my face inches from her own.
"Don't you ever, do anything to cause yourself more brain damage then you already have, again." Casey hisses.
"And what are you going to do to stop me." I give her my trademark smirk but Casey isn't joking around.
"I'll-I'll" tears start to form in her eyes. Oh great. Now she thinks I'm suicidal. Normally I would start to freak when Casey starts to cry, but I have this overwhelming urge to comfort her. I stand up and walk over to her.
"Casey don't do that. Do not cry. It's not like I was trying to kill myself or anything." I try to make my voice sound as soothing as possible.
Casey looks up at me just as surprised by my sudden sweetest as I am. I know I just-." Tears begin to roll down her face. "I just broke up with Max. I- I'm sorry for bothering you, just don't bang your head into anything okay."
She begins to walk out of my room but I grab her hand and pull her into a hug. She's tense for a second but then returns the hug and sobs into my shoulder for a few minutes. I can't say I'm sorry her and Max broke up. He was completely wrong for her. He had no personality not to mention he was a total jerk. When we finally break the hug there is awkwardness between us that's seems vaguely familiar, like it's always been there but I never noticed it before.
"Thank you." she smiles but looks confused as she walks out of my room into her room. I wait until I hear her door close and pick the phone up again still a little dazed and confused about what I just did.
"Hello?"
"What happened?" Sam asked.
"I'll call you back when I figure it out."
XXXX
I breaking up, but ended up talking about the unexpected hug I finally got from Derek.
"So was it how you imagined it?"
"I never 'imagined' it Emily, I just…I don't know. I've always wanted a feel good family moment from Derek and I always assumed it would come out of a hug but-." I hesitated.
"But?" Emily demanded.
"It didn't exactly feel like a 'family' moment." I could practically hear Emily smile over the phone.
"Ugh! Emily what am I going to do?"
"Well hmmm. I think, you two should start dating, you know test the waters, and if you happen to find the water enjoyable, tell your mom and George. I'm sure won't be that upset."
"Emily," I sighed, "I do not like Derek, besides, things tonight were a bit-"
"Awkward?"
"Yeah."
"Give it time."