Alright chapter number seven! Just two more to go! Thanks for reading and I'm grateful for all the reviews! For those of you who added this to your favorite story list or story alert, you rock! XD
Disclaimer: oh yes, I own Life With Derek. Now excuse me while I go get sued!
ooo
The seventh time she asks to see him, he jokes. They had been arguing earlier about him leaving for Vancouver to be with his girlfriend Sally. And Casey made it real clear as to how stupid he was being.
Both teens were sent out to shop for dinner (Derek being the driver and Casey the shopping list) when she suddenly brought up Vancouver in the silence of the car.
"You're really going to leave us Derek?" Casey asked as she leaned against the passenger door. Her words were so soft he could barely make them out, but he heard her and he groaned inwardly. Derek didn't want to talk about it, especially to Casey in the Prince where no one else was present.
"Not now Casey," he complained, turning the wheel to make a left turn. She didn't have her sunglasses on so when she turned her head towards him, Derek could see her eyes fix themselves on his extended arm.
"Yes now. You spring this up on us not even two hours ago and expect us not to ask questions? You can't do this Derek," she was calm but her tone was firm and he knew the yelling would start in a few minutes. Yet this was a serious matter, one he did not want to talk about with Casey.
"Yes I can. And you're not my mother Casey, you don't seriously think I'd listen to what you have to say," he countered as he pressed the break pedal at a red light. He turned to look at her and watched as her head shifted to the dashboard.
"This isn't just about me, Derek! What about the family? You think they're ecstatic about this? Do you want to leave them here for a girl over there?" she was practically yelling now, each sentence increasing in both volume and velocity. Her hands, he noticed, were clutching onto the arm rest as her face contorted into a frown.
"This is none of your business! What I do and where I go is not your concern! And my family will be fine!" he starts to accelerate the car as the light flicks to green. It's dark out and the streets were just about empty. Casey doesn't say anything else and as he pulls into the parking lot of the market, she unbuckles herself and opens the door. Derek bangs his head against the wheel muttering, "they'll have to get over it" before turning off the engine and exiting the car. Casey is already leaning against the trunk as she waits for Derek to guide her. Without a word, he brings her hand to his elbow and makes his way to the sliding doors of the market. The tension between them lingers awkwardly as they went aisle by aisle in search for the things they needed. Casey would mutter a food product Nora instructed her to buy and Derek would look or it before tossing it into the basket.
It wasn't until the stuff was purchased and Derek was in the middle of placing them in the trunk when Casey spoke up.
"It does concern me Derek, what you do always concerns me. It's been like that for the last, what? Three years? And your family, Derek, they want you around! What about Edwin? He looks up to you! And Marti? You mean the world to her Derek and believe it or not my family cares for you too!" Casey's leaning form on the side of the car was now in front of him. She must have guided her way over and by way her small hand pressed itself against the metal frame, he knew he was right.
"Casey just drop it," Derek was not in the mood to argue. He didn't want to discuss this in a supermarket parking lot with a distressed Casey. Removing her hand from the car to close the trunk, Derek turned away to push the empty cart in its place with the others.
"How can I let this go? You're making a mistake! Don't do this!" Casey's voice was close and as he turned back around, there she stood a few feet from the car and inches from him. He hated it when she did that. Not only was it dangerous for her to walk out like that, but he'd always end up with her knocking into his back when he stopped walking.
"Do what Casey? Live my life with someone I'll be happy with?" lies... He's actually not happy.
"I think that's my decision," he lowers his voice as he moves past her to the car. Casey whirls on the spot, her long brown hair falling onto her shoulders. There are tears in her eyes, her face no longer twisted in a scowl and he realized that this was when the shit hits the fan.
"Damn it Derek! This is your family we're talking about! You can count me out if want, which I know you will, but please..." she paused to catch her breath. She had said please, something she's never used in his presence. He could tell she was serious because Casey hardly cries for him. And Crap, why bring up the family again?
"Don't do this," she finished as she lowered her voice, no longer using the you-listen-to-me tone she had before. She was begging and he wasn't expecting this. In fact, he never wanted any of this to happen. This was real and too late to avoid. This argument with Casey (a real, epic, serious argument) needed to end. Because truthfully, he didn't want to be with Sally. She was nice and smart, but she was just an escape. His attachment to normality when he strayed too far into the life of his stepsister. It was too much for him to take, because Casey was growing on him. And he needed an out. So when opportunity knocked on his door, he opened it and said ' let me get my bags' because if anything should set him off, he would not be able to take it back. Nor would he regret it. And that was the scary part. It went to show him how much he adored Casey. How much he liked her in his life, keener-ness and all.
Derek leaned himself against the car and watched as Casey stood in the middle of the asphalt. There were a few cars parked around them, but no one was driving for her to be in danger.
"Derek," Casey said as she took a few steps closer. She was still a few feet away, but he made no move to guide her back.
"Derek...?" she uttered, her voice breaking slightly as she stretched out her hands in front of her.
"Derek this isn't funny..." her chest began to rise rapidly, arms spreading wider in search for the man of topic.
He watched her from his leaning form on the car, too pissed off and curious as to what she would do. It wasn't his fault she couldn't keep her mouth shut, even if he was the one to push her over the edge. But he appreciated her and no matter how annoying she could be, he couldn't leave her. That part of him that disciplined for control was there in the back of his mind, spieling all sorts of commands and suggestions. 'Be careful Derek ' and 'Just be patient dumbass and wait till you're stronger. You don't have to wuss out and leave her' were a few that kept popping into his head.
Casey's breathing became shorter and her gray-blue milky eyes were glossed in tears. Damn her and her ability to make him feel guilty.
"Derek!" she cried desperately, her whole form swiveling around in an attempt to bump into him. She was shaking and the small whimpers coming from her mouth were driving him insane. Pushing himself off the Prince he walked towards her, taking her outstretched right hand in his and leading her towards the car.
"Derek?" she questioned, unsure if the hand in hers was really his. Because he had his PDA rule, she couldn't distinguish Derek from some random male. She has never seen him, so how the hell can she know the difference between his hand and someone else's?
"Who else Princess?" he retorted, not daring to look back at her tear stained face. Casey didn't respond, too relieved that he came back and she chose not to ruin whatever mood he was in by replying with a comeback. She merely stood by him and wrapped her left arm around his, pressing her cheek to his shoulder. She felt him tense and the little flame in her gut became a full fire. Derek cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence.
"You should get a guide dog," he stated, keeping his eyes on the concrete floor. Casey smiled slightly, not able to resist the door he just opened.
"I do. His name is Derek," she replied, holding tighter onto his elbow in case he decided to leave her alone again. It was mentioned before when the McDonalds first moved in that Casey should take assistance from a k-9, but Nora was allergic to dogs so Casey had to depend on others to help her get around. And the stick, as she put it, was out of the question. She would probably do more damage than anything. Every so often, Derek would bring it up and she would have to remind him why she couldn't.
"Funny Princess. Hope you know I don't obey commands at your will," Derek said, pushing her head slightly with his shoulder.
"Of course! Who else would put honey in my shampoo," Casey exclaimed, lifting her head up to look in what she thought was his direction. She was off by a few meters, staring instead at the air before him, her blue eyes gazing at the unknown objects in the background. Derek made the mistake of looking at her, letting his brown orbs roam her face. He noted the small smile on her lips, realizing that she was not mad at him anymore. He must have really scared her. And every time she had called his name, he sensed the anxiety in her voice and couldn't bear to hear it.
"Didn't think you could actually smell the difference though," he continued, smirking in the process. Casey's smile widened and it took him a few seconds to register that he was the cause of it. However the smile faded and in it's place was a thoughtful expression.
"Will I ever see you?" she suddenly asked, her eyes moving a bit higher from their original position. She had been asking to 'see' him since the first week they met. She had already seen the rest of his family, George the first day she met him and his siblings at the rehearsal dinner. Edwin couldn't stop blushing as Casey's fingers brushed his face and Marti couldn't stop giggling. But Derek, Derek wouldn't let himself be touched by Casey, even if she was blind. It wasn't because he didn't like her, far from it; it was because he didn't know what it would do to him. The minute he realized how she 'saw' someone, with her delicate fingers grazing the skin of the person's face, Derek knew he wouldn't want her to stop.
"One day Princess. When you believe that I am the king of all that is divine," he sighed, pulling out the keys from his pocket.
"Jerk," Casey pushed him against the car, feeling her way to the door handle, a small smile on her face. After Derek helps Casey into the passenger seat, he gets in the car and drives back home. He never mentions Sally or Vancouver after that.
Ooo
Just two more chapters! I'm thinking of doing a one-shot (is that the name?) of their first meeting at the café. Maybe one on the rehearsal dinner?…OK chapter 8 is already written; I just need to transfer it into a word document and post it up! Thanks for reading!
