Again, a shortish update. Again, no reveal. But it's close. I promise :) It really is. I hope you like this. Thanks for all the reviews, they mean the world to me. Please review and please enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: Putting this every time upsets me...but I don't own LWD. Stop reminding me, lol
Fifteen minutes later, Derek returned to Casey's room with a large mug of hot chocolate.
"Here you go, Casey. Hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon and some whipped cream." Derek said, handing Casey the mug. He really hoped it would make her respond; she still looked empty and broken.
Casey lifted an eyebrow at this. "Since when do you know how I like my hot chocolate, Derek?"
Derek blanched, caught off guard. Regaining his composure quickly, he replied "Why, Casey, I know you. You're an open book. I can read you with my eyes closed." Derek was hoping this would get her to show some sign of emotion, unfortunately it didn't work.
Casey just stared at him, color slowly coming into her pale face. Life, however, was not returning to her eyes. Casey was facing Derek, yet she was looking somewhere else. She was looking inside herself, and she obviously wasn't observing anything that made her happy. Derek stood watching Casey, not saying anything, just watching. He watched as she forgot he was there, too involved in her inner world. Derek watched her and came to a realization. Casey looked like she was empty, anyone looking at her would agree. However, if someone knew Casey, knew how her emotions played upon her face, they would realize she was far from vacant. Derek watched with a new perspective; he saw subtle emotions flicker across her face and in her eyes. Pain. Sorrow. Loss. Confusion. Guilt, an extraordinary amount of guilt. Derek felt as if a brick had hit him in the stomach. What could make her feel this bad? I don't know how to deal with this. Derek had no idea what to do, so he did the only thing he knew how to do; he acted like a jerk.
Derek reached over and shoved Casey's shoulder. Casey snapped out of her internal reverie and looked up at Derek.
"Casey, what is your problem? What can possibly be so wrong in your life that you are lashing out at your mom and sister? You skipped school! You, the grade-grubber! What could possibly make Miss-Better-Than-Thou do that?"
Casey just stood up and turned her back to him. She went to her desk and pulled open a little box. Casey grabbed a lighter and began to light the various candles around her room. Walking back to her desk, she put the lighter back; when she turned around she jumped a little, almost as if she had forgotten Derek was there. "Derek, if you don't mind, I need to be alone right now. So…" Casey said, while motioning towards the door.
Derek was frustrated; he was so used to getting what he wanted and knowing everything that happened in his house. Derek walked up and put his hands on Casey's shoulders. Derek shook her, to turn her attention to him. Stepping closer to Casey, Derek looked Casey square in the eyes.
"Casey. What's wrong? Tell me."
Casey narrowed her eyes and roughly replied, "Leave, Derek. Get out." With that, Casey shoved him backwards with all her might. Derek stumbled back and hit the side of her bed. Derek's force caused the entire bed to shift, revealing Casey's trunk underneath. Derek noticed the trunk; he looked up at Casey who had stilled, she hadn't locked it back up, the latch was hanging loosely. Her eyes widened and her face had lost what little color it had. Looking between the trunk and Casey, Derek made a decision; he reached for the trunk.
