A/N: Guys, I am SO sorry that I haven't been able to continue my stories! I am so excited to be back and to continue all of my stories that were left unfinished! I'm going to continue 'The Reunion' very soon, so look forward to that! I really hope you enjoy! Don't forget to leave reviews! Because it literally makes my day to read them all from you guys! Look forward to more!
The next day was a huge blur. Because Nora ended up finding the letter on Casey's desk, and she pretty much had a mental breakdown that whole day. Nora called up Casey and Lizzie's Dad, and practically screamed over the phone to him. We were all in the kitchen, sitting quietly to ourselves. I could hear Nora in the living room, screaming through tears. "How could you do this?" I heard her yell over the phone. "They're very close to their brothers and Marti, David! Even George! He's pretty much their Father now, not you!"
I grimaced when Nora mentioned me and Edwin as the 'brothers.' But she was right, I guess. We were the 'brothers.' Casey was holding Marti in her lap, who was snuggling close to her. Lizzie was sitting with Edwin, holding his hand tightly while crying. Casey had a blank expression on her face, as if she had cried all the tears she had, and there was none left to give. She looked over at me, finding that I was already looking at her. She looked away quickly, with a guilty look all over her face.
Nora walked into the room right then, with tears rolling down her cheeks. She was quickly wiping them away, and trying to force a smile onto her face. Dad stood up, and hugged her tightly in his arms. We all watched them as they did so. "What did he say?" Casey asked Nora blankly. Nora and George pulled away from their embrace and looked at her. Nora sighed, and started to play with her hands nervously. "He said that he thinks he could give you a better life with him. A better college opportunity for you, Casey. And a good private school for Lizzie. He thinks you both deserve better..."
Casey interrupted Nora angrily right then, "And he's just now decided all of this?" She yelled at Nora. Nora seemed taken aback by Casey's anger, but I could tell by her expression that she understood. "Lizzie doesn't even know him, Mom! I barely even know him! I already have a good chance into getting into that school at New York! And Lizzie doesn't need to be in a damn private school! She's the smartest in her class, right? We are perfectly happy with the things we have right now!"
Silence filled the room again, and Nora just started to cry again. "I know, Casey." She said softly through tears. "I know. I'm not going to let him take you two away from us. I promise."
Silently, I prayed to God that Nora could keep that promise. I was never very religious. Because Nora and Dad practically dragged me to church with the whole family. But I did believe in him, and I did pray when times came like these. The silence was broken by the sound of the home phone ringing. Casey kissed Marti's forehead and sat her off her lap. She walked to the other room to answer her phone. And I already knew who it was. Brett. I felt even more sick at my stomach by just hearing his name in my mind. "Hello?" I heard Casey say, trying to act like her usual perky self.
A pause. "Oh hey, Brett." Casey said, not sounding so perky anymore. Another pause, it was a long one too. "I don't think I can tonight," She said while sighing. "I'm sorry. I'm kind of having some family problems."
I could just hear him pleading to Casey in my mind. "Please, Case. For me? I'll make sure you have fun! And that's a promise!" God, I felt like gagging my insides out. Brett was such a douche, and I swear, if he tells Casey anything, I'll beat up his rich ass. "You what?" Casey said in disbelief. That was it, I had to listen on the other line. I stood up, causing everyone to look at me. "I'm going to the bathroom." I said as I walked out the door, and walked up the stairs as quickly as I could. I rushed to my room, and picked up my phone, listening on the other line. "You heard what I said," Brett said softly. "I said that I love you!"
My mouth literally dropped open. What a dick! He didn't love Casey! Not at all! God, I was so mad. I heard Casey sigh over the phone, "Look Brett," She said softly. "I'm going through alot right now. A lot of family issues. We will go out some other time. It'll be soon, I promise."
Brett sighed, "Okay babe," He said. "I understand completely. But just don't forget that I love you, okay? Because I do. You're the first girl that I've ever loved, Case."
"I won't forget, Brett. See you later."
"Okay, babe. Bye."
"Bye."
The conversation was over, and I quickly hung the phone up. I then laid on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Life sucked. It really did. Or at least for now it did. It was May 19th today, and the court date was June 3rd. So we had exactly two weeks, and it was going to be two very long weeks. Later, when I came downstairs for dinner, Nora was on the phone talking to a lawyer they might hire. "Do you really think we have a chance?" I heard Nora ask desperately as I walked into the kitchen.
I sighed, and got a plate of Lasagna that Dad had prepared, since Nora was far too busy to be cooking for all of us. All of us sat at the table, and ate the Lasagna. No one talked, except for Marti, because she really didn't know what was going on. "This stuff looks too lumpy and bumpy to eat." She complained, while twirling the Lasagna around with her fork with a disgusted look on her face. Dad put down his fork, "Then eat your salad or baked potato, Marti." He said, and continued to eat again.
She made a face again, with her nose crinkled up slightly. "I don't like salad and I don't like the brown stuff on my baked potato!"
I felt sorry for Dad, because he was already going through enough with Nora. I decided to help him out, "Marti, eat your food." I said just like Dad would've said to her. Marti moaned in an annoying way, "I don't wanna! I want pizza or a cheeseburger with fries! Something that's good!"
"But that is good. You're just not giving new food a chance."
She moaned again, and started making herself eating the Lasagna. I rolled my eyes, and continued eating my food again. As I munched on my Dad's delicious Lasagna, I glanced over at Casey, who was sitting across from me. She wasn't eating her food, she was just picking at it, with her head down starting at the plate. Dad seemed to notice, "Casey, you'll feel better if you eat," He said softly. "I promise."
Casey looked up at Dad and smiled, and he smiled back. She then started to take small bites of her meal, starting with her salad. Nora walked into the room right then, with a smile forming on her face. "I hired a lawyer," She said, sitting down beside of Dad satisfied. "And she said that we have a 50/50 chance against David. She said that as far as it goes for education and money, that will be the only reason David has a chance of winning over the girls. But as far as care and a good home situation goes, there will be a very good chance they'll stay with us. Because she said that they want the girls to be in a comfortable home situation."
Lizzie smiled brightly, almost out of relief. Casey smiled a little, but I could tell that she was still worrying. Nora looked at Casey, and held her hand. "I think we will have a chance, Case." She said smiling. "Everyone is going to go up on the stand and testify how they want you and Lizzie to stay, even Marti. Once everyone sees how much everyone loves you and Lizzie and cares for you, the jury will decide the right decision."
Casey's expression didn't change, she just nodded a little. Lizzie seemed happy, because her and Edwin rushed upstairs after they finished dinner to watch tv in her room. Watching the two of them sometimes make me think if the two of them will turn out to be me and Casey. But then I shrug the thought off. They're too young, way too young. And besides, even when they do hit their teenage years, they'll already think of each other strictly as brother and sister.
Unlike me and Casey, who were thrown into a house together while we were going through our teenage years. I really do think it would've been different if I knew her as a kid, because I would only think of her as one thing. A step sister. But I don't think of her as just a step sister, and definitely not as a sister. I think of her as something more, something way more than a stepsister or a sister.
After dinner, I sat in my room with music blaring in my ears. Dad bought me some new headphones earlier today. He always does that when we have issues at home. Buy me, Edwin, and Marti something new. He did that when Mom died, but I don't really like to talk about that.
I was listening to Faber Drive, which is my all time favorite band. It was the song "Obvious" and it weirdly reminded me of Casey. I didn't realize the door opened until I saw Casey standing there, looking at me. I quickly pulled off my headphones, and looked back at her. Casey sighed and shut the door, then walked over to my bed and sat down. "I just wanted to apologize about what happened yesterday, Derek." She said softly, not meeting me in the eye. "I shouldn't have screamed at you like that. But then again, it wasn't fair of me to kiss you back."
"It's fine, Case. We have more problems to worry about."
She then looked at me straight in the eyes, as if she was looking into my own soul. As if she knew every single secret and lie I have ever told or hid away. "What happened yesterday," She said sternly, but still in somewhat of a soft tone. "Can never happen again, okay?"
I didn't want to argue with her anymore, so I just nodded, even though I could feel my anger building up within me. I wanted to yell at her, to call her a whore and a tease. And I didn't even know why, but I knew she didn't deserve those words. So I just kept my mouth shut for once. But as I looked at her, it softened my whole body, my anger, my sadness, my everything. She was my everything. And when we both go away to college and part our own ways into different lives, I will try to smile at her with joy and compassion. No jealousy, no anger, and no heartbreak.
I could imagine her, walking down the New York City streets with some of her new friends she met at her school. They would be pointing at things in the window that they would like to buy, and Casey would get annoyed if her friends dragged her along to some place where she didn't want to go. And for some reason, I would be there, walking on the street too. I would look over, and see Casey across the street I was walking on. She would be laughing and talking to her friends.
Then, she would finally look over to where I was. She would look at me in a strange way for a second, but then she would realize who I was. She would hold up her hand and wave, and I would smile at her and do the same. It's kind of sad, isn't it? Knowing that you and your friends will travel completely different paths in high school. And have kids of your own, jobs of your own, and even bills to pay. Look at my Dad, for example. He was the football star at his old school, and now he's just a regular family man.
I don't like to think about the past though, I like to think about the future and what it holds. And as I looked at Casey, I couldn't imagine picturing a future without her in it.
A/N: Did you like it? I wasn't for sure if Derek's mom died or just left George, but either way just ignore it. I'm really proud of the end of the story, because I kind of mixed up Derek's emotions a little bit. Alot more is coming soon! Thank you all so much! Leave reviews!
