Getting There

Disclaimer: You know the drill.

A/N: Here it is! Another chapter! The song is Explode, Nelly Furtado

As a friend of mine pointed out, quite rudely, she sort yelled at me and lectured me, I have been shamelessly flaunting Toronto and Portugal. This is dedicated to her.

I don't care.

Lol, I do realize I did this…but I can't help that I am proud of my heritage. Maybe not so much Toronto, considering the fact our government sucks and they make bonehead decisions…okay, back on topic. R&R PLEASE!!

Chapter 10: This to Remember You By

Getting.There.

Vera's face burnt as a memory of bedroom fun
With a lighter and some hairspray
Smoking in the girls' room

"…we went through hard times together and good times together. We all know what it was to be the outcast. Or what it was like to have that one person see you as who you really are and know there's more than meets the eye. We've all hard our share of tough moments during our journey. When we think of how much those times hurt, we realize that…those experiences made us who we are today.

"All the names, games, pranks…whatever. All of it shaped and moulded us into the people we are. And we have to believe that this will always be a good thing. We've all been through the awkwardness of freshman year, and the feeling of dominance in our senior year. All the petty fights and cliques just don't matter anymore. It's who we are, who we've become. Throughout high school we complained.

"Time is too slow. I want out. But now…think back. These are our fun years. Now look forward. The real world waits out there for us. We've been talking about it for a while. But now, here it is. At our fingertips. But we want to savour this moment. The beginning of the end. A new journey. Congratulations class of 2010, we made it!" Casey said as she turned to her classmates as they threw their hats up in the air and joined them in doing so.

It seemed to move in slow motion. The smiling faces, all looking victorious. Diplomas held tightly in their grasps, grins from ear to ear, tears of joy, tears of sadness as long time friends said goodbye, tight hugs, affectionate hugs, squeals, jumps, and Derek's lips on Casey's.

Getting.There.

Not worse than Shelley's rape behind the McDonald's
By a man she thought was fine, didn't tell anybody
Or maybe back then we just thought that she was getting some

"Can you believe it's over? No more high school. It's scary, you right about that in your speech, Case. I kind think I'm gonna miss it." Kendra said sadly. Casey smiled at her and she, Kendra and Emily all joined together in a group hug.

"C'mon guys. We've still got two months. How 'bout we make 'em last?" Casey asked and the two girls nodded vigorously through their tears.

"Of course. We aren't losing any time we have left with you, Case. That's for sure." Emily said as they joined Derek, Edwin, Lizzie, Nora, George, Marti, Sam and Ralph in the parking lot. Derek smiled at Casey and she practically leapt into his awaiting arms.

"Nora videotaped the whole thing. She cried so much." Edwin said and Casey laughed as Derek kissed her temple affectionately.

"You were great." He said quietly as he tightened the grip his arm around her waist held momentarily before letting go so Nora could engulf her daughter in a suffocating bear hug. Casey smiled as Lizzie and Marti both hugged her tightly at the same time.

"It was so good." Lizzie said. Marti nodded.

"What she said." She said brightly before pulling away and letting George and Edwin stand in the background.

"Awkward…" Edwin said as he shoved his hands in his pockets and stood awkwardly beside George. Casey chuckled quietly and ruffled his hair before giving George a side-hug. "What is it with you people touching the hair?" He asked as he tried to smooth out the hair that stuck out at all ends. Lizzie smiled brightly before reaching out and helping him.

"Aw…that's so cute." Kendra gushed as Edwin smiled at Lizzie who was having trouble with a particular piece of hair that refused to be flattened down. Casey smiled and Edwin rolled his eyes, partly because the teenage girls were gushing over how cute he and Lizzie were, partly because Lizzie refused to stop touching his hair and because he knew the girls were right.

"Isn't it?" Emily said and Derek rolled his eyes.

"You guys say the same about those two." Sam pointed out and Kendra shrugged.

"Sam, if you're going to make a point, then do it. Cut all vague crap." Kendra said as she crossed her arms over her chest. Sam rolled his eyes.

"That wasn't vague. That was as plain and forward as Derek's jealousy and protectiveness over Casey." He said and Derek narrowed his eyes at his friend playfully.

"Don't drag me down with you." Derek said and everyone chuckled quietly.

"C'mon, we've gotta get going." George said as he and Marti left to the car. Nora smiled and nodded in agreement.

"We'll see you all later at the hall." She said and Kendra nodded as she and Emily waved goodbye. Once the Venturi/McDonald clan was gone Ralph, Sam, Emily and Kendra all parted with their own families.

"See you later!" Emily called out to Kendra who smiled and climbed into the front seat of her mother's car while Nick hopped over the door and into the backseat of the Mercedes.

Getting.There.

Now we look back and see that she didn't know how
We never thought that we'd get caught up
Stuck in the teenage waste

"This was such a good idea." Casey said as she climbed into the front seat of The Prince. Derek glanced over to her and smiled before he turned his attention to the rear-view mirror as he backed up out of the driveway. "Now we can all celebrate together." She said and Derek nodded. She frowned and looked at him intently. "What's wrong with you?" She asked.

"Nothing." He said as he chuckled lightly. "Why would something be wrong with me?" He asked and she shrugged.

"I don't know. You're acting really…weird. It's strange to see you not talking a lot. I kind of miss your voice." She said as she nudged him playfully and lightly. He smirked at his eyes remained on the road.

"I'll sing." He said and she scoffed.

"I said I missed your voice, not that I wanted to be tortured. I don't deserve a death sentence." She said and he laughed.

"Harsh." He said and she smiled.

"But seriously, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing!" He protested and she rolled her eyes.

"Well, I guess I'm not trustworthy enough for you to tell me. Fine, but when I have a secret and you want to know, I'm not telling you." She said and he raised an eyebrow she rolled her eyes and leaned against the seat. "Okay, so I'll probably spill my guts out." She admitted and he shook his head as he chuckled quietly. "But that's beside the point." She said.

"Look, Case. I don't have some drastic secret that I'm hiding from you. I'm fine." He said and she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"I never said drastic…" She trailed and he glanced at her, giving her a disbelieving look. She rolled her eyes and bit back a smile. "All right, I'm…maybe…being a tad overdramatic. Just a tad." She said.

"Just a tad?" He asked and she looked at him sternly.

"Don't push it." He raised a hand in defeat and set it back down on the steering wheel.

Getting.There.

As we explode
As we explode

"Hey guys!" Kendra greeted, rather loudly, as Casey and Derek walked into the outside party-area. "Doesn't this look awesome?" She asked as she gestured around. Casey nodded as she grinned and looked at the fountains with blue and green lighting in them.

"It does. But I thought we weren't getting any of the decoration stuff. Remember? It cost too much?" Casey said and Kendra waved a hand.

"She just went to the Bank of D-A-D." Emily said and Casey nodded in understanding. Derek shook his head and smirked.

"You're still doing that?" He asked and Kendra shrugged.

"Still?" Emily and Casey asked simultaneously.

"Yeah, she's been doing that for as long as I've known her." Derek said and Kendra smiled.

"I'm…persuasive." She said and Derek scoffed.

"Or…manipulative." He said in the same manner she had. Kendra stuck her tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes. "So, what time are people going to start showing up?" he asked and before Kendra could answer a group of people walked in and she ran over to greet them.

"Mm…I'm guessing now." Casey said with a smile and Derek looked down at her.

"Ya think?" He asked and she hit his chest playfully.

"C'mon. I wanna go see who's got Kendra running in stilettos." Casey said as she dragged Derek over to the group.

Getting.There.

Then getting drunk in the bushes by the road outside the K-mart
Rolling around in them to see if you would get prickled

"My feet hurt." Casey complained and pouted as she perched herself on Derek's knee. He smirked and raised an eyebrow.

"And?" He asked she pouted and he rolled his eyes. "And you want to go home." He answered his own question and she nodded.

"Please?" She asked quietly and he sighed and smiled at her.

"In a minute, Babe. I promise." He said and she gave him a peck. Ten minutes later Casey found her eyes falling shut. She looked over at Derek who was still engaged in conversation. She rolled her eyes and went over to him.

"Derek?" She asked tiredly and he looked up at her from his seat. "Can we go? I'm starting to fall asleep while I'm standing." She said and he nodded.

"In a minute." He said and she nodded then trudged back to the table where she was sitting with Emily and Kendra.

"What'd he say?" Emily asked and Casey rested her head in her hands.

"He said in a minute." Casey answered and Kendra and Emily shared a look.

"Isn't that what he said ten minutes ago?" Kendra asked and Casey nodded.

"I'll ask him again in a bit. I'm sure we'll go then. He's having fun with his friends." Casey said and Kendra pursed her lips and looked in Derek's direction.

"Mm-hmm." Emily said, putting her hand on Kendra's arm, signalling her to stop before she said what she was thinking aloud. Kendra looked at her and Emily nodded knowingly. Another fifteen minutes passed by and Casey got up and walked to Derek.

"Derek." She said, her eyes drifting shut. He looked up at her.

"Yeah?" He asked and she sighed.

"Can we please go? I'm really tired." She said and Derek sighed irritably.

"Casey, in a bit." He said Casey nodded then went back to her table.

"And?" Emily asked, Casey's head hit the table.

"In a bit." She mumbled, her voice embedded with tiredness.

"Like hell." Kendra mumbled so Casey didn't hear. She went over to Derek and shoved his shoulder.

"What?" He asked exasperatedly. Kendra glared at him.

"You know exactly what, you jackass. Because you're so busy with your friends I'm going to take my best friend home, because he boyfriend doesn't give a damn. If you need her, she'll be at my house. And I swear to God, Derek, if you come knocking at my door with some lame-ass, half-back apology then you better be a fast runner." She threatened before she stalked back to Casey and Emily.

"What happened?" Emily asked.

"I'll tell you on the way. C'mon, Case. I'm taking you back to my place. You're staying the night. You get your coat and purse and I'll meet you by my car. I'm going to call Nora and clear it up so she isn't worried." Kendra said and Casey nodded and gathered her things before trudging to Kendra's car.

"Okay, thanks for understanding, Nora…Bye." Kendra hung up and went back to the table to pick up her jacket. Emily was following Kendra who was giving Emily a ride home as well.

"So, what happened?" She asked. Casey was already asleep in the backseat and Kendra was pulling out of the parking lot. Kendra told her what had happened and repeated what she had told Derek. "What a jackass." Emily mumbled.

"Tell me about it." Kendra said.

Getting.There.

Slip the acid on your tongue rooftop mall parkade
We couldn't get enough

"If you don't leave, I'll call the cops." She whispered so she didn't risk the chance of Casey hearing and waking up. Derek scoffed.

"I'm sure." He said and Kendra pushed him as he tried to advance further into the house.

"Derek, leave." She said and he tired to get around her again. When she pushed him again he grabbed her wrist and held it tightly. Her eyes went wide as she held back a cry of pain. His grip tightened as he glared at her.

"Don't touch me." He spat out at her. She cringed at the stench of his breath.

"Oh my God. You're drunk." She whispered as she held in more painful cries that began to bundle up in her throat. "Derek, let go. You're hurting me." She said, her voice wavering and loudening on every note. The sound of feet softly hitting the stairs was the only sound heard before Kendra finally let out her cry of pain.

"Kendra…are you okay?" Casey asked as she looked at Kendra's wrist frantically. Kendra nodded as she held back tears that were forming in her eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you?" She asked Derek in a whisper-yell. He crashed his lips down onto hers and she pushed him away and slapped him. "Out." She said and he furrowed his brows.

"What?" He asked in confusion and she advanced him slowly, he backed up with every step she took.

"Out. You're drunk." She said and he shrugged.

"So?" He asked and she looked at him.

"I won't deal with this. I'm not going to." She said and he raised an eyebrow.

"That's kind of bitchy of you, don't you think?" He asked and she looked at him in confusion. "After all, I picked you up, night after night, when you went out on a drinking-spree. Don't you think it's time you repaid me? God, damn it. We've been dating for a year and we've never had sex!" He said and her eyes widened as she fought back tears.

"Get. Out." She growled. With one final, hard shove he was out the door and she closed and locket it. She leaned against it and let her tears fall.

"Casey…Hun, are you all right?" Kendra asked and Casey nodded as she wiped away some of her tears only to have them be replaced by fresh ones.

"Yeah. Come on, that's starting to swell, you need some ice." Casey said as she went into the kitchen and set the lights to a dim setting so their eyes weren't overwhelmed with the bright light and so Kendra couldn't see how hurt Casey really was.

She didn't think it was fair that she should be the one they always look after. Kendra could've been in serious trouble had Casey not showed up at that moment. It wasn't about her this time. She was tired of it being all about her and Derek and their problems. Or his problems. Maybe it was her problems. She didn't know. She didn't care. All that she was thinking of was giving Kendra her well deserved attention.

Getting.There.

Then count the stars and the ten million woes
Just you and the universe judging each other

"Get in, Idiot!" Sam called from inside his car to Derek as he trudged down Kendra's street. Derek looked at him and rolled his eyes as he climbed in.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Sam asked and Derek just shrugged and leaned his head against the headrest. "I get a call from Casey –" Derek perked up slightly at her name being mentioned and he looked at Sam.

"Casey?" He asked and Sam rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, your girlfriend." Sam said pointedly. "You know the girl who's a best friend to Kendra, the girl you hurt? You know her house? You went there. You're drunk. You're an idiot. I don't know the whole story but I do know you grabbed her wrist and hurt her.

"I know you're drunk, and maybe you don't know exactly what the hell you're doing, 'cause you've always been an incredibly stupid drunk, but c'mon, Derek, even you've got enough common sense, drunk or not, to know that what you did was so fucked up.

"I don't even know why the fuck I'm bothering. You know damn straight what I'm talking about but you don't listen. You'll wake up tomorrow with a killer headache and not even remember this whole thing. You'll see Casey tomorrow, she'll be completely pissed off at you, you'll say something to make her forget about it and she'll forgive you. I just don't understand. I'm going out on a limb here, and I'm going to say this despite whether you remember or not.

"She could do so much better than you. Truth be told, she would've been better off with Max. Yeah, at least he didn't get abusive when he was drunk. You're home, get the hell out of my car, you idiotic ass." Sam said; jaw set as he pulled up to the curb and motioned for Derek to get out.

Getting.There.

We never knew that we'd get caught up
Stuck in the teenage waste

"Are you sure you're okay?" Kendra asked Casey and she nodded.

"Kendra, I'm not the one who was threatened with bodily harm. I'm fine." Casey said with the most of a smile she could manage out for her friend. Kendra smiled sadly in the same manner.

"Thanks, Case. You're a really good friend." Kendra said and Casey sighed.

"No, that would be you and Emily. You guys put up with me and all my shit. I owe you guys' big time." Casey said, her smile becoming slightly larger and more genuine.

"We don't put up with you, Case. We love you. And we know you'd do the same if it were one of us in this predicament." Kendra said. She winced as Casey replaced the already melted ice-pack with a cold one.

"Sorry." Casey said as she loosened the pressure. "I would. It just…it kind of amazes me that you guys would go through all this and I barely do anything in return. I try…but…" Casey trailed, searching for the right words.

"But we aren't in the same positions. I know, Hun. Your life right now is…well, I'm not going to lie, it's pretty damn dramatic. It just so happens that this turning point happened at the same time my life and Emily's kind of settled down. I don't think you should be sorry. Or we should be wallowing in itty-bitty problems, making them ten times larger than they truly are, just because we're helping you through your problems." Kendra said with a smile. "I think we should be grateful." She said with a shrug and Casey hugged her lightly.

"Thanks, K." Casey said and Kendra hugged her back.

Getting.There.

As we explode
As we explode
As we explode
As we let go

"What the hell?" Edwin asked himself as he looked into Casey's room to see Derek sitting on the bed, glaring at a picture of her. "Derek?" He asked as he advanced the room cautiously. Derek looked up at him with hazy eyes.

"What?" He spat out and Edwin's face contorted with disgust as a waft of Derek's breath hit his face.

"Oh God, please tell me you didn't drive. Better yet, tell me Casey wasn't with you." Edwin said worriedly. Derek scoffed.

"The uptight snob? No she wasn't with me. She was with the blonde, bitch-of-a-snob." Derek said Edwin narrowed his eyes.

"Did you just call Casey a snob?" He asked and Derek nodded. "Wow, you're a really moronic drunk." Edwin grumbled before he left Derek, afraid he might do something he'd regret in the morning.

Getting.There.

It's a fight, it's a fight and you finally belong
Got a shiner now and it's more than a battle scar
More than a battle scar, such a good, good story to tell

"Hi guys." Emily said as she walked through the open front door.

"Hey, Em." Casey said quietly.

"You okay, Kendra?" Emily asked and Kendra nodded.

"You guys, I'm fine. It isn't that bad. It really hurt at first but it's fine now." Kendra assured them and Emily looked at her sceptically.

"Okay…if you say so." Emily said and Kendra smile reassuringly.

"If you don't mind, I'm gonna go upstairs, I'm beat." Casey said and Kendra nodded. Once out of sight Emily plopped down on a stool and looked at Kendra expectantly.

"How's she holding up?" Emily asked eagerly.

"She keeps saying that she's fine, that it wasn't her who got hurt…but I'm not so sure." Kendra said and Emily nodded.

"She doesn't look okay either. I mean…she looked really broken up. I'm going to check on her, I'll be down in a bit, okay?" Emily asked and Kendra nodded.

Getting.There.

At lunch break, lunch break, lunch break, lunch break
Such a good, good story to tell

"Thanks Sam." Kendra whispered. Casey had wrapped up her wrist and had gone back to sleep and Kendra had called Sam almost immediately after Emily was out of sight.

"No problem. I said some things to him he probably won't remember but I was just so pissed off at him. It needed to be said." Sam said and Kendra sighed.

"He's our friend, but he was an idiot." Kendra said.

"How bad is your wrist?"

"Casey said it was a mild sprain, it should heal up in a week, or two at most. It isn't a big deal."

"It is a big deal; K. Derek could get in huge trouble for that. He wouldn't be sentenced as a juvenile either. He's eighteen, he could be charged for assault. That's scary shit. What are you going to tell people?" Sam asked.

"I'll just tell them I fell or something. Really, Sam. It isn't a big deal. I'm fine." Kendra said and she could hear Sam exhale deeply on the other end.

"Okay…just-just promise me if anything like this happens again you'll call me right away." He said and she sighed. "Right away, Ken." He said,

"Sam…I really don't –"

"Right away." Sam urged and she sighed again.

"Look, it won't happen again. I know it won't. I called you first this time, did I not?" She asked.

"Kendra…right away." He said and she blew out a slow breath.

"Okay. I promise." She said quietly.

Getting.There.

You bully, you break, you bully, you break
You fake, you fake, you fake, you fake
You smoke, you toke, you want, you flaunt, you hit it and you're in it and it's spinning

Emily stood behind the wall separating the living room from the kitchen as she listened in on Kendra's half of a conversation she was supposedly having with Sam.

"I called you the first time, did I not?…Okay. I promise…Yeah…I know, Sam, but it won't happen again…It isn't who he is…don't say that!…He wouldn't do that to her…Because-because…because I just know!…Right away, I promise…I already told you, I'm fine…okay, bye, Sam."

Emily leaned her back against the wall and evened out her breathing.

This is not happening. She thought to herself before pulling out her cell and contemplating calling Sam.

Getting.There.

And it's wild
We never thought that we'd get caught up
Stuck in the teenage waste

Casey remained in the room and let her tears fall. Emily was gone and she was free to let it out. Of course, she did so silently. She rummaged through Kendra's desks in search for a paper and pen. Alas, after many struggled, she found a pen with pink feathers on the top and a piece of pink scrap paper.

Ode to joy

I loved it

Together we were happy

Didn't want it to end

Ode to faith

You fooled me

Thought I knew who you were

You changed me

Ode to love

I don't know what it is

Is this what I keep

Is this what I have

No goodbye

Is this what you leave

To remember you by

Ode to you

You changed

I changed

For worse

For better

I don't know

Ode to joy

Where the hell did it go?

She looked down at the poem and let one tear leave her trademark symbol. The tiny salt-water drop burst and left its deformed shape on the paper before she folded it up and shoved it into her purse.

Getting.There.

As we explode
As we explode
As we explode
As we let go

"He's drunk?" Lizzie asked in shock. Edwin nodded.

"Yeah. He called Casey an uptight snob. Why the hell would he go out and get drunk?" Edwin asked and Lizzie shrugged.

"I don't know. He's sort of been acting weird this whole week. Haven't you noticed?" Lizzie asked and Edwin gave a half-shrug.

"I guess. They've been arguing more than usual this past month. Do you think he's still angry about her going to Montreal?"

"I don't think so…we'll just have to talk to him in the morning. Nobody's going to get through to him now." Lizzie said and Edwin nodded in agreement.

"Night." He said as he walked out of her bedroom and up the stairs to his attic-bedroom,

Getting.There.

We're counting the stars
We're counting the stars

Sam leaned back against his mattress.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" He asked himself aloud. "I've got a girlfriend, a great girlfriend…yet…

"God, my mind is so screwed up right now. On one hand, I care about Emily, on the other hand…Kendra…I just…

"Ugh! What the hell am I supposed to do?!" He yelled into the emptiness. He hit his head repeatedly against his mattress. "God…" He mumbled to himself.

Getting.There.

We're gonna go far, we're gonna go far
We're counting the stars, we're counting the stars
We're not very far, we're not very far

Kendra leaned her head against the table and hit her head lightly again and again. Idiot, idiot, idiot…she punctuated each word with another hit.

I can't believe I'm even thinking about this. I can't…he's and…Emily…

What am I supposed to do? I mean…I've liked Sam for a while but…it's never been this serious. Why is this happening? Why now? Why me?

She hit her head against and groaned softly.

"Great. Just great." She mumbled to herself.

Getting.There.

And it's you and me in the open air
It's truth or dare, we don't care
We're counting the stars, we're counting the stars, we're counting the stars, we're counting the stars

Emily took one last look at Kendra before she bit back her tears and did what she had to do in the least painful way possible. She cared about Sam, really, she did…but…

I know, Sam. It's over. We can still be friends, in fact, I hope we are. But I know that I'll never be able to measure up to her in the least way possible. –Emily

She sent it out and away the text went. She went up to the bathroom and leaned over the sink as she let her tears spill over.

It's done. And it's for the better. She thought before she wiped her tears and went back to Casey.

A/N: And it's done! I just had to update. I'm really excited about this story. Again, the main point of it was that Derek is an idiotic drunk. It'll be VERY MUCH needed in future chapters. Some constructive criticism is much appreciated, and just tell me what you liked and didn't like please!! REVIEW!!