Disclaimer: QUESTION: Do I own LWD? FACT: I do not.
A/N: So, to answer a few of the questions and whatnot from the reviews. I did not plan on having Lizwin in this fanfic, but you never know. And yeah, Edwin is kind of OC in this story isn't he, well, your right him and Lizzie would usually do this kind of stuff as a team, but for the plot's sake, he's going solo.
Chapter 9: Semper Derekus
Tuesday Morning
The sun is at its limit. Its twin floats on the ripples of the sparkling blue void. The Mediterranean waves crash into the pure white sand, as Derek focuses on the mysterious silhouette of a woman approaching him. He just lies there under a poorly constructed sunshade, obviously done by him, unable to move. The uncertain beauty perplexes him, leaving him lethargic and anxious. She inches closer with every blink; Derek tries to call out to her, but the message does not resonate. He tries again, but to no avail. As she gets closer, Derek is able to confirm his peculiar notion. Derek's body slightly loosens up, he props himself up on his elbows. His eyes enlarge, gazing at Jane Doe's flawless curves, her hair flutters with the cool ocean breeze. The captivating enchantress is awe inspiring, filling Derek with a content and blissful feeling. His psychedelic trance is abruptly ended by a loud thump. Derek turns his head to the right to locate the source of the sound. He finds nothing behind him, just an empty white space, which goes out for miles it seems, or kilometers in this case. Derek returns to his sight-seeing, instead to be startled by the unknown woman, who is practically inches away from his face. The dark haze that covers her face slowly begins to disperse. A gleaming expression covers Derek's face, as the woman's face comes into clear view. She smiles and grabs both of his shoulders, pushing him over parallel to the ground. She starts to say something but he can't hear her. She starts shaking him, and the sounds starts to become audible. "Hey. Derek. Wake up." He hears. Derek opens his mouth, "Casey-." Derek's eyes open, seeing that he's grabbing some ones waist. He realizes it isn't the bikini-clad brunette from his dream. "I know I've been gone for a few weeks, but uhh…isn't this a little too much?" Sam says, with a frightened look. Knowing that he just blurted out Casey's name, while grabbing on to his best friend, Derek finishes, "Casey! Sam's here!" He yells towards his door, saving himself from giving Sam a long explanation.
"Dude, she knows, she's downstairs," Sam says, releasing Derek's grip.
"Oh sorry…I'm just so surprised to see you back so early," Derek replies, getting up from his bed. "And, another thing, what are you doing here so early in the morning," he says, looking at the clock.
"Early? School starts in thirty minutes. I thought I'd give you a ride to school," Sam replies.
"How sweet," Derek says, sarcastically.
"Yeah, I know," Sam replies.
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Five minutes later.
Derek and Sam come down the stairs talking about some hockey game that was on the other night.
They make their way into the dining room, where the whole family has congregated.
"Good Morning, Derek. You and Sam, come join us," George says, pointing toward the chairs at the table.
"What's going on? Did some one we know…die?" Derek asks, looking around the table.
"Derek. That's not funny. No one died, we just wanted to gather everyone before you all went to school," Nora replies.
"Yes. As you know, tomorrow is Nora and I's first year anniversary," George says.
"It's only been a year?! Feels longer than that," Edwin replies. Him and Derek laugh.
"Ha-ha, very funny wise guy, now shall I continue?" George says.
"Go on."
"Like I was saying, tomorrow is our anniversary, and we would like to have some friends over tomorrow to join us in this joyous occasion," George continues.
"So you guys are going to have a party here tomorrow?" Casey asks.
"Party?!" Edwin and Derek look up at George.
"A few of our closest friends, doesn't equate to a party," Nora replies, quelling down their enthusiasm.
"But it can," Derek interjects.
Casey speaks up, "So does this mean we can't be here?"
"That's what we were going to ask you, if you all don't' mind being away for a few hours," Nora answers.
"Yeah. We'll give you guys some money to go to the movies or something. So what do you think?" George asks.
"I'm okay with it, it is your first anniversary and all," Casey says. Lizzie and Marti nod their heads in agreement.
"Hold the phone!" Derek says, raising his hand.
Nora and George look at him.
"Since this is a joyous occasion, like you said, shouldn't your kids celebrate this with you?" Derek asks.
"Well, I guess it would be more merry," George replies, turning his attention to Nora.
Nora looks at him, "Hmm, I don't mind either, only on the condition, that there will be no funny stuff. Tomorrow means a lot to your dad and me."
"Of course, it means a lot to us too," Casey replies, before letting Derek make a remark. Everyone nods their heads.
"Well then, I guess that's solved," George says, rubbing his hands.
"We'd better head off to school," Lizzie says, grabbing her back pack. Edwin and Marti follow her out the door. Nora and George also follow them through the door.
"Hey Casey, I'm giving Derek a ride, you can come with us if you want, save your gas," Sam asks.
"Alright. Thanks." Casey replies, in a giddy tone. Derek makes a repulsed expression, "Gag."
Casey hits him with her purse.
Sam laughs, "Well, it seems some things never change."
"Ha-ha, yeah," Casey and Derek laugh.
The three of them leave the house.
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The High School
Derek and Sam are on their way to the cafeteria.
Derek notices Noel in the corner of his eye, "Hey Sam. I'll catch up with ya." Sam nods.
Derek walks up to Noel who is putting up some books in his locker.
"Hey Noel." Derek says, coming into Noel's view.
Noel looks up, and then returns to putting his books up, "What?"
Derek takes a big breath, "Uhh….uhh….this isn't easy for me."
"What is it?" Noel says, coldly.
"I'm sorry." Derek replies.
Noel shuts his locker, and turns toward Derek, "I don't want an apology." He says, turning away from Derek, "Especially from you."
"Wait, I'm not finished." Derek runs up to Noel. "I need to tell you some things, some important things concerning Casey."
Noel stops, "Casey?"
"Yeah, let's go somewhere private." Derek replies.
Derek and Noel sit down on the stage of the vacant auditorium.
"So what about Casey?" Noel asks, concerned.
"First off, I see Casey only as a sister, nothing more. I know she broke up with you thinking that I might feel the same way, but I don't." Derek lies.
"Wait. So, what about Sunday night—," Noel says.
"I was wrong to do that to her. I was being selfish, I didn't mean it to get out of hand," Derek explains.
"Wow, you are a total ass." Noel says, getting up from the stage.
"I know." Derek stares off into space.
"I mean, I know you and Casey never get along, but that's just too much, for anyone." Noel continues.
"I know."
Derek's attention continues to drift off. Noel walks up to him, and kicks the stage. Derek snaps out of his haze.
"So why tell me all this?" Noel asks, "Why couldn't Casey tell me?"
"That's the thing, Casey's not in the best state right now. That's why I need you to make the first move," Derek informs.
"What?"
Derek gets up from the stage, "I'm sure if she has someone she trusts beside her, that person being you, her feelings for me will start to disappear."
"Hmm."
"And that would be the best for all of us, don't you think?" Derek says.
Noel's forehead wrinkles up, "Are you serious?"
"Of course I am."
"No, not that," Noel replies, "Do you really not have feelings for Casey?"
Derek's eyes shoot up at Noel, "Of course I don't. I told you it's one-sided."
Noel flashes back to what he saw at the mall on Saturday. He contemplates on bringing it up.
"Last—,"
"Last, what?" Derek asks.
"Never mind, so what do you want me to do?" Noel replies. Derek's face brightens up.
"Alright, you need to give Casey a ride home today after school," Derek tells him.
"What about her car?"
"Me and her came with Sam to school this morning, so when u ask her, she'll probably say no." Derek replies, "Just be persistent. And then you should be able to take it from there."
Noel comes up closer to Derek, "I'm going to do this, not for you, but for Casey. For what you did to her, that's unforgivable."
An annoyed expression covers Derek's face, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Noel exits the auditorium. Derek sits back down on the stage, and falls back looking up at the spotlights. He shoots back up realizing he forgot something. "Oh shit, Sam."
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The last period of the day just ended, and Casey is taking some books out of her locker before heading home. She noticed that she wasn't getting the same looks and glares from everyone; it seems Derek really did what he said he would do. Casey finds it quite impressive. She laughs to herself.
She closes her locker and turns around.
"Hey Case." Noel says.
Casey looks surprised, almost dropping her books. Noel stops them from falling out of her hands.
"You okay there?" Noel asks.
"Hey Noel. Yeah, I'm fine."Casey smiles.
"Hey…uhh… how about I take you home today," Noel says.
"Noel."
"I know, I know. Don't worry." Noel replies, "I'm just doing what any friend would do."
Casey gives an anxious smile.
"We are still friends, aren't we?" Noel asks.
"Of course we are." Casey confirms.
"Good. Ready?"
"Uhh…" Casey sees Derek at the stairs behind Noel, he nods her to go on, "…y-yeah, let's go."
Noel and Casey walk away from the lockers, Casey looks back and Derek gives her a thumbs-up, she smiles faintly in return. Derek's thumbs-up slowly transforms into a thumbs-down, as his grin turns into a frown.
A/N: Is Derek regretting telling Noel? Welp, this fanfic is almost done, just 3-5 more chapters left. I'm going to try to complete this before Valentine's Day, which is also my very own rent's wedding anniversary, irony.
Enjoy, lates.
