When Derek's eyes opened slowly, he was aware of three things. For one, he hadn't remembered sitting back down onto the couch with Casey or what they had decided on watching. Two, he hadn't remembered finishing up all the food, but at some point they had. And three, if they didn't get moving, he was going to be late for his game that night.
The third one is what made him shoot straight up, causing Casey's head to fall side-first into the couch – which woke her with somewhat of a start.
"Derek? What's…what's wrong?" she asked, sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
"Casey! We have to get going or I'm going to be late!" Derek said, frantically moving around the apartment.
Casey jumped up now too, and ran to her luggage to grab some clothes upon realizing that she was still in a towel. "I can't believe I spent this long in a towel…" she muttered, but Derek still heard her.
He couldn't either, but he kept his mouth shut…for once.
They got dressed, Casey going into the bathroom to do so, of course, and Derek got packed in record time. After throwing his hockey bag over his shoulder, he uncharacteristically grabbed Casey's hand and practically dragged her out the door.
"Where'd you park?" Casey asked him, as she allowed him to pull her like a rag doll.
"We're not taking a car, Case, we'd never make it."
"Then how are we getting there?"
"Bus." Was Derek's only answer.
Outside, there were people everywhere since it was New York in the beginning of December. This was the last two weeks' of games before the NHL gave them Christmas break.
It was not lost on Casey that Derek had repositioned them so that he had one hand around her waist, and another on her arm – as though he were afraid of losing her. And in this crowd, she had absolutely no doubt that would and could happen.
And it was precisely at this moment that Derek got a look at what Casey had chosen to wear to his game. She was wearing jeans that showed off places he really shouldn't be looking at as her stepbrother, black boots that came up to right underneath her knees, and a heavy jacket that he recognized as one of his. But underneath of that jacket…he recognized the Leafs' colored hoodie that he had, and wondered if she was also wearing one of his old jerseys. The thought (did not) make him smile. He also recalled the fact that she had not once complained about going to one of his games when he mentioned it. He wondered if she actually wanted to go, or if she felt obligated to go.
"Venturi! Nice of you to join us." The coach snapped as they hopped onto the bus that was parked behind the hotel.
"Sorry, Coach." Derek muttered, as he dragged Casey behind him.
"Am I allowed on here?" Casey whispered into Derek's ear as they walked down the aisle. Everyone had gone quiet and was basically staring at them, except for some guys in the back.
Derek nodded, "Yeah, we're allowed two seats – one for us, and one for our shit." He smirked then, "I guess today you're…"
Casey put a finger up, "Don't you dare, Venturi."
Derek's smirk was now a full blown smile, "Chill, Case, I'd never call you shit. I was going to say you're taking the place of my shit."
Then, Casey narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms and smirked herself, "Don't look so happy about that."
Derek's jaw clenched through his smile as he held out a hand for Casey to sit in the window seat.
She smiled at him and sat down and he threw his bag on the floor in front of his feet as he sat down as well.
At this point, everyone had resumed their conversations, and Derek was grateful that Coach had decided to ream him about his attendance later and not in front of the team.
Unfortunately, that did not stop his best friend and co-captain, Steven McCarthy, from getting on him right away.
"Hey, man! Nice of you to show up." And Derek felt a smack to his shoulder.
Derek turned, a smile plastered on his face, "Yeah, tell me about it. Sleeping beauty over here wouldn't wake up."
Casey's jaw dropped, and she crossed her arms over her chest, "Typical Derek always blaming me for crap that's not my fault. You were asleep too, you know. I must've worn you out."
And then she winked at him.
Derek's jaw dropped and Casey read the expression on his face to say, "What the hell?" but he didn't voice it aloud.
Steven and the woman next to him, meanwhile, laughed hysterically in their seats. And, after a couple minutes, he calmed down and held his hand out to Casey, "You must be the famous Casey I've heard so much about. I'm Steven – the better half between the captains."
Casey laughed, and replied "Yeah, now that I'll believe," as she returned his handshake.
"And this is my girl, McKenzie." Steven introduced, pointing to the woman next to him.
"Please, you can just call me Mac or Kenzie. I'll answer to either." The woman said, smiling as she too held her hand out for Casey.
"Casey." She replied, nodding her head. "How long have you and Steven been…"
Derek groaned, "Only forever. I lost my roommate when she came along," and when he said 'she,' he pointed carelessly to Kenzie.
"Derek! Be…"
In the meantime, though, Kenzie had rolled her eyes dramatically, "Casey, don't even bother, he's just jealous because I'm prettier."
Steven laughed.
"I am not jealous! I don't even know the meaning of that word."
Casey shot him a smirk, "Der, you don't know the meaning of a lot of words…doesn't mean you can't be them."
Derek rolled his eyes as he smiled, "I think you'd be surprised now, Case."
Her eyebrows shot up, "Oh, yeah?"
Derek only nodded in response.
Then, "Prove it," came out of Casey's lips and he never thought he'd ever hear her mutter those words.
"Oh, I'm sure I will. We'll probably run into a word you don't think I know the meaning of sooner rather than later, don't you worry."
"I'm not worried."
The bus stopped in back of the rink and everyone stood up to file out.
"Come on," Kenzie said, looping her arm through Casey's, "you can hang with me."
Casey smiled as they waved goodbye to Derek and Steven.
Somehow, they all had a feeling that this was going to be a very, very bad game for the Rangers.
"You know, Tony, Venturi is the Captain of the Leafs, and for good reasons, but I think tonight he even blew Rangers' fans out of the water with that performance. And we're only through one period! Venturi already has a hat-trick with three goals in the first six minutes of the game! Do you think he has something to prove to someone?"
"I don't know, Rick, but it certainly seems that way. This is probably one of the best games Venturi has played in a long time, and he's on track to break a couple more records tonight if he keeps this up. I don't think the Rangers stand a chance."
Casey and Kenzie couldn't stop screaming as Derek and Steven were having a really good game – Derek especially.
Casey had read up some about hockey; she knew that a hat trick was scoring three goals in one game, and she was a little upset that she had forgotten to bring a hat, just in case.
But, when Kenzie and Casey noticed the guys looking up at them from the bench, they stood and turned around so that they could see their names splayed across the girls' backs.
"You know," Kenzie said, as they sat back down when the first period ended, "I hate to say this, but you're acting more like Derek's girlfriend than his step-sister."
Casey gave a non-committal half-shrug, "I know…"
Kenzie furrowed her brows, "I thought I remembered Derek saying the idea freaked you out?"
Casey swallowed hard, "It…it used to, but I guess…after being away from him for so long and…actually missing him…I realized why all those people thought that. We did sort of act like a couple, and we did always have each other's backs. I know if I would've called him to come help me, he would've dropped everything in a heartbeat and been there…"
"Then why didn't you?" Kenzie asked.
"How much do you know?" Casey countered, narrowing her eyes at the blonde next to her.
Kenzie at least had the decency to look sheepish, "Derek talked to Steven while you were asleep, I think, and Steven told me. But, please, don't blame Derek. He said you won't let him tell your parents and he needed to tell someone…someone who could help keep all the questions at bay."
"What questions?"
Kenzie took a deep breath, "Notice how no one really knows that you're Derek's step-sister? Steven didn't announce it on the bus, and Steven and Derek both questioned those guys that night he… 'rescued' you, and they don't remember a damn thing because of how drunk they were. Here, you're not…his step-sister…"
"…I'm more like his girlfriend."
Kenzie shrugged, "Or just a woman who is a close enough friend to tag along with him and wear his jersey…"
"And scream for him. Yeah, Kenzie, I'm more like a girlfriend."
"And the idea doesn't freak you out anymore."
Casey shook her head, though it was more of a statement than a question, "It doesn't, but I think that simple fact should."
"Why? Why should it freak you out?"
Casey shrugged, "What would our parents say, for starters?"
Kenzie chuckled, "You don't think your parents saw this coming?"
Casey shook her head.
"I think they did."
"You don't know our parents."
Kenzie fully laughed now, "Parents play dumb a lot, but they see more then we think."
"How would you know?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
Kenzie turned to fully look at her, then, "I'm Steven's step-sister."
And Casey's jaw dropped.
Kenzie laughed and nodded, "That's probably why he and Derek get along so well. Not just that they act alike."
"What?"
"Derek hasn't…"
When Casey just stared at her, Kenzie shook her head, "Nevermind, then, Casey. Forget I said anything."
And, Casey was sure that this was the first time she had seen Kenzie look flustered since she had met her.
Kenzie was a tall, blonde who looked like she should be a model – and, Casey supposed, she very well could be.
"No, tell me." Casey said, turning to fully face Kenzie.
Kenzie shook her head, "No, trust me, you don't want me to. Hey, look! Second period's about to start."
"But, I…" Casey started, but was quickly drowned out when the rink erupted with cheers and screams – including Kenzie – as the Rangers and Leafs took the ice to begin the second period.
Well, how about that twist, huh? I guess the real question is, will their friends cause Casey to think about that possibility more?
I am sooooooo soooooo sorry for your wait! I had writer's block for a little while about what to write next, because I wanted to add some hockey into this fic since, ya know, Derek does play and I'm a huge hockey fan when I can actually sit down and watch it. Ha. Anyway, while struggling with writer's block I barely had time to sit down and write – and unfortunately, that's not going to change much since this time next month, I'll be a few states away from home for once and having started college again!
However, as usual, I PROMISE to try my best and I also PROMISE to not give up on this story!
With that being said, THANK YOU ALL FOR STICKING WITH ME AND CONTINUING THE REVIEWS. When I tell y'all that they are what helped me come out of my writer's block to write this chapter I am NOT lying!
You all are AMAZING, and hopefully I'll see you again after the next chapter.
