To Charlottetown
Chapter 10: Kingston II

A/N: Eek! Sorry for the long wait. This chapter would've been out sooner, if I hadn't gone to London for the weekend. Then, first thing Monday morning my French teacher told me I was getting a 30 in her class. Yes, I'm failing French (yet there's some French in the following chapter…). So I've been busy catching up.

Oh, yeah, my friend (I know you guys are probably annoyed about listening about me go on about my friend. But this is important) asked me what was not to be expected from this story (romance-wise), and after I answered her I couldn't help but wonder if you guys were wondering the same thing. So here's a list of things that will 98 percent not happen. So, it's like a warning in case you guys wanted it.

- Dasey sex scene … so no matter how heated things may get (-Big Wink-) they will never, ever rip off their clothes and go at it like animals. That's just not my style.

-Dasey hook-up … They will not become a couple in this story. As some of you may know, I shoot for realism, and the way this story is going to end will not leave enough time for them to "get together". However, this does not necessarily mean there will not be a confessional.

And… that's about it, at least for now.

Tonight was the "big night", as Casey liked to call it. Her stomach was churning and her palms were sweating, but that just added to the excitement.She stared at her reflection in the mirror and smiled slightly, her lips twitching up in the slightest manor.

She had straightened her hair and pulled it back in a barrette, used the lightest amount of make-up and had put on her new outfit – a red top with a tight bodice that fluttered out about mid-stomach, with black bell-bottom jeans. She had also put on flip-flop heels, with a black outsole and heel while the rest of the shoe's material was a bright, blood red colour.

She had finished preparing herself about ten minutes ago, but that didn't necessarily mean she was leaving the bathroom. She couldn't help but continue staring at herself, making sure every inch of her face and body was perfect for Ryan.

She thought she had locked the door, so she nearly toppled over in fear when it slammed open, revealing a very angry-looking Derek.

He carelessly tossed a hairpin onto the counter of the bathroom – his means of unlocking the door—, and she saw his mouth open up, ready to retort and insult her. It was at that time she let her eyes trail over his outfit and face, hardly realizing he was choking over his words.

He wore a blue flannel shirt with dark jeans and his normal runners, yet something was different about him. Her eyes flashed up to his face, and realized his hair was a little neater then usual.

She almost laughed when she realized he was doing the same eye-over as she had, and at exactly the same time she was, before his eyes flashed up to meet hers.

In that molecule of time, she wanted to say, "you clean up nice", or "you look great" or any other compliment, until he had to open his fat mouth, causing all compliments to die on her tongue.

"Why the hell are you still in here?! Other people have to use the washroom, you know! Edwin had to go to take a whizz outside because of your girly needs!" he exclaimed, pushing past her to lift up the toilet seat lid.

Casey paused, eyeing him with her mouth hanging open. The last time he had done that – as in threatening to pee in front of her—had been so long ago she didn't suspect he'd actually do it.

However, when she heard his zipper lower, she gasped and raced out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. She could hear Derek laughing from inside the washroom, but she was in too much of a good mood to yell at him for such a rude act.

Her eyes finally fell over the rest of her family, and she smiled at how they all looked.

Lizzie caught her attention first. At the protests of both Nora and Casey, she had agreed to buy a blue dress with a ribbon for her hair. She looked incredible, and Casey's chest swelled with pride out how grown-up her sister looked.

Edwin sat beside Casey nervously, fiddling with the bow tie Nora had bought him when they had gone out. He wore a simple button-down white shirt, with dark pants and his normal running shoes. His hair was brushed back out of his face, and Casey smirked at his looks. However simple he looked, he was still handsome.

Marti was next. She wore a purple, glittery shirt with a dark purple jean skirt. Casey was surprised to see the boa wrapped around the girl's neck. She had thought they'd left it at home, but apparently Marti had sneaked it in.

Nora wore a lovely floral dress with matching brown shoes. Her hair was pulled back in a clip, and she wore a thin chocolate brown sweater. George, who nervously stood beside Nora, wore a button-down black shirt with khaki pants. In fact, he was the only one whose outfit didn't impress Casey. Yet again, George didn't have much of a fashion sense.

"Are we ready to go?" Nora asked suddenly, clasping her hands together. Casey smiled, realizing her mother only did that when she was nervous. Everyone seemed to be nervous about attending a play.

"We're just waiting for Der—."

"Lets get out a here!" Derek cheered, sauntering out of the bathroom as he ushered everyone to leave the hotel room. As Casey passed him out the door, their eyes locked, and for a brief second, she seemed to loose herself in his brown eyes. However, his smirk made her snap out of her daydreams as he gave her a push out the door, his hand on the small of her back.

Casey shrugged out of his touch and stomped down the hallway and over to the elevator. She was silent all the way down to the car, and only until she was in her place in the minivan and was passed her ticket did she realize how nervous she was.

She didn't know why she was so nervous. She had been on tonnes of dates before – alright, not tonnes, but still enough so that boys didn't make her nervous anymore. No, her body was acting up for a different reason; she just couldn't exactly decide what.

Kingston at dusk flashed by before Casey's eyes as she stared out the window. She dimly watched the lights flash by as George steered the minivan down different roads, half the time his eyes reading the map on the back of the pamphlet that showed how to get to the Grand Theatre.

And finally, after abut half hour of travelling, she saw it. It wasn't extravagant, and it didn't exactly pop out. In fact, it was a wonder how a George even managed to point it out.

They parked the car and walked into the warm theatre. After all the formalities were said and done, and they had been allowed into the actual seating auditorium to wait for the show to start.

Normally, Casey would've been actively involved in the play, but she was a hormonal teenager, thus her interest was preferred on boys. She hardly paid attention, mainly because she and Ryan were exchanging texts.

"What're you doing?" Derek asked, leaning over to see her phone. Casey glanced up at him, and then snatched her phone away from his view.

"I'm texting Ryan," she replied simply. When Derek didn't press her, Casey excitedly showed the phone to Derek. "Look, he says he's going to cough and we're going to see if I can hear him." Derek rolled his eyes and turned away from Casey, plopping his head in his hand limply.

Seconds later, someone in the audience started hacking and Casey smiled, texting Ryan back hurriedly. Her reactions had piqued Derek's interest, so he leaned back over and saw that she was in the middle of gushing at how she had heard him.

He cleared his throat loudly, than called out, "Ryan you suck!"

It turned out to be a little loud, and several people around him shushed him, but all the same he had annoyed Casey, which was a mission accomplished in his eyes.

Casey, in turn, started texting Ryan about how the "idiot beside her" had said that. And until intermission, that's how it went. Just texting each other and trying to guess where the other sat and how close they were sitting.

As soon as the curtain close, Casey rose from her seat and tried hurrying away, but someone grabbed her arm and shoved her back down into her chair.

"Where are you going? This is supposed to be a family night, you know," Derek snarled. "You dragged us all into this, and now you're just going to bail to go talk to Pansy Boy?"

"No, I'm going to go get a snack," Casey replied, swatting his arm. She went to stand up, but Derek grabbed her arm again and stood up behind her.

"You know, I think I'm going to grab a snack, too. Won't that be so much fun?" he hissed in her ear. Casey shivered and turned away from him, walking out towards the lobby.

"I still stick to my original story: you're jealous," she replied. Derek laughed sharply when they reached the lobby, and stepped ahead so he faced her.

"Why would I be jealous if you and that British Crumpet get together?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Casey looked into his eyes, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"I never meant it like that. I meant, you're jealous I have someone who's interested in me," she replied. Derek swallowed and his upright position fell slightly.

"Oh, yeah, of course… I knew that."

"Right, now step aside and go get a bag of Nachos or something," she replied, pushing him aside so she could make her way over to the coffee machine. That was where she and Ryan had agreed on meeting, and with each second that wore on, her nerves grew.

"Casey!"

"Finally," she sighed, turning and facing Ryan Sullivan. She smiled wildly at him as he jogged towards her, throwing his arms around her waist.

"It's nice to see you again!" he gasped, giving her a squeeze. Casey choked as all air left her lungs, desperately pushing at Ryan's chest to get him away so she could breathe again.

"Yeah… nice to see you too," she replied breathlessly. Ryan smirked and leaned forward, kissing her lightly on the lips.

"It's felt like years! Don't you agree?" Ryan asked, poking Casey's arm delicately.

"Not really, but –,"

"And you look so gorgeous! If you were chocolate, I would just eat you up," he cooed. Casey froze; her smile remaining in place as Ryan threw his arms around her again, squeezing her a little less dramatically.

"Yeah… umm… you – Oh my God! What is that smell?" Casey hollered, jumping out of Ryan's arm. A horrid, putrid smell was coming from him. It was absolutely horrifying – the kind of smell that made your eyes water and made you want to upchuck until you fainted.

"You like?" Ryan asked, smirking. "I got it in France last Christmas. Odeur d'Amour Frais. Très expensive. I thought it was absolutely perfect for the occasion."

"What occasion?" Casey asked, frowning. "I hope you didn't get all dressed up for our simple little –,"

"Well, I was going to ask you to be my girlfriend. But then I thought, 'Damn. She already has a boyfriend.' So I thought if I wore an expensive perfume, you'd dump that guy you've already got and hook—,"

"Uh… Ryan," Casey sighed, looking him in the eyes. "What's wrong with you?"

"Wrong? With me? Nothings wrong!" Ryan laughed.

"Why are you acting so strange?" Casey whispered, lowering her eyes to the ground. Ryan clamped a hand under her chin, and Casey had the hugest urge to pull away.

"I'm not acting strange. I'm acting in love!" he cried, trying to pull her back into his chest, but she pulled away as soon as she smelt a whiff of that stupid cologne.

"Ryan! We're not a couple! We're not in love! We're not even friends! You're really rushing into things," Casey yelled, throwing her hands up in exasperation. Ryan sucked in a deep breath, meeting Casey's gaze carefully.

"But I love you. I thought what we had was special…"

"We don't have anything!" Casey crossed her arms and looked away. She was getting more and more annoyed by the second. Ryan leaned toward her and put his hands on her arm.

"Are you alright, Casey?" he asked. Only, when Casey looked up, it hadn't been Ryan who had said that.

She was surprised to see Derek standing there, his eyes wide and knowing. She took a second to think things over, before laughing and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Everything's fine… Der… Der-bear," she stuttered. Derek's brow crinkled slightly, but she only stepped in front of Ryan and mouthed 'Help Me'.

Derek cocked his eyebrow in a way that said 'You Owe Me', before reached around Casey and pulled her into his side, her face muffled into his shoulder.

"Hey! It's Ryan, right?" Derek asked. Ryan sucked in a deep breath and nodded.

"Great. Well look, my… uh… girlfriend here is kind of freaked out with you. She's in a perfectly happy relationship and won't be needing your services anymore."

"You sure? I mean, dude, you're fine and all but –,"

"Yeah, that was my polite way of saying, 'leave us the hell alone.' Alright, Ryan buddy?" Derek cocked an eyebrow, but Ryan had a determined look on his face as he crossed his arms.

"I think Casey can speak up for herself." Casey wanted to nod in agreement as she resisted Derek's arm and pulled herself off of him, but Derek only wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him so her face was shoved in his neck.

"Well, she doesn't have to. We're just so happy, and… you know…" Derek's voice trailed off.

"And, 'I know' what?" Ryan pressed. Derek sighed and shifted his foot. Casey tried pulling away again, but one of his hands pushed her back down.

"You know… we're… in love and stuff, and… just back off. Alright? She doesn't want you. And who are you to come between us? You've know her for what, three minutes? All you know about her is that she goes to Tim Hortons."

Derek and Ryan continued fighting, but in Casey's mind, she had lost track of the conversation as soon as Derek had said they were in love. As soon as he said that, she had wanted to push him away and explain everything, but she quickly reminded herself that this was the only way to get Ryan away.

Ryan. She hadn't expected him to be so clingy. Why had he seemed normal in Tim Hortons? Why did have such a horrible judge in character? And why was Derek helping her, after she had just blown him off and yelled in his face?

Instead of thinking of the hell Derek would put her through, she inhaled Derek's sweet smelling cologne, and focussed on how incredibly nice he smelt, compared to Ryan's stupid perfume.

It seemed like hours before intermission was declared over, and Ryan stormed away in a fuss. Derek had jerked himself away from Casey, staring intently into her eyes.

"Thanks."

"And…? You have to say, 'I'm sorry Derek for disbelieving you when you said Ryan was a complete freak.'"

Casey laughed at Derek's imitations of her own voice, and rolled her eyes while saying, "I'm sorry, Derek, for disbelieving you when you said Ryan was a complete freak."

Derek smiled and smacked her arm playfully.

"There, much better, right?"

"Wait…" Casey paused and fixed him with a curious gaze, frowning. "You're not going to do anything else? You're not going to say I have to repay you? That's awfully sweet –,"

"Hey, hey hey! I never said you wouldn't be repaying me. Casey," he sighed, shaking his head at her stupidity, "Honestly, I thought you knew me better then that!"

"A girl can dream, can't she?" Casey inhaled quickly, then met Derek's gaze. "Alright, what do you want me to do?"

"Not blab on Nora and Dad," Derek replied simply. Casey cocked her head to the side curiously, and Derek just smirked again, explaining she'd know what he meant in due time. It was then that Casey realized intermission was over, and they had been standing there for a food five minutes.

The two of them raced back to the doors that led to the play, only to see the doors had been closed.

"Hey, can you let us in, please?" Casey asked the uniformed man. He just looked at her with a ridiculous expression on his face. He pointed to a sign with his gloved hand.

"No admittance after the doors close."

"But we're only five minutes late!" Derek yelled. The man just shrugged carelessly.

"It's my job, and I intent to enforce it. It's not my fault you two were probably making out somewhere and didn't make it back in time."

"We're stepsiblings!" Casey yelled. The uniformed man shrugged again.

"That doesn't stop it from happening." Uncomfortable silence filled the air between the man and the teenagers as his words sunk in, before Derek inhaled sharply.

"So what do we do, Case?" he asked. Casey looked over to him and rubbed her temple, trying to calm her nerves.

"I don't know. Let's wait in the lobby," she replied.

The uniformed man wagged his finger at her. "No can do, ma'am. The lobby ain't some hang out graound for teenagers. You're going to have to wait outside."

"But our family's in there!" Casey shouted, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"You shoulda thought 'bout that before you were late," the man replied, smirking dangerously at the two.

Casey groaned and stomped away, Derek following close behind her. When they stopped outside the Grand Theatre, she spun on her heel, her eyes light and alive.

"Well, where do you want to go?"

"Uh… we're walking somewhere?" Derek asked. Casey waved her arm as she laughed, before patting Derek's arm like he had told a good joke.

"Of course not! Let's steal the car and go somewhere."

Derek nearly choked on his saliva when she said that.

Author's Notes

Again, I truly am sorry for the long wait! And this chapter was crap compared to how I was going to write it. You can tell I rushed through, mainly because I wanted to get it out as soon as possible. I didn't think I'd get stumped on this chapter, but I did, and that's part of the reason why it never came out sooner.

Anyway. So, I heard your plea, My Name Is R.C, and I did not make Ryan a jerk – I made him an idiot. Besides, idiots are always fun. And I took yumified's idea about Derek being the "knight in shining armour" and viola! Ze outcome is what it is.

Anyway, I've said enough already.

I'll try and get the next chapter out soon. But I really need to get my French grade up, so it may be a while (Like, from 3 – 7 days) before the next chapter comes out.

-Pulls out pompoms-

So everybody: 'R' to the 'E' to the 'V' to the 'I' to the 'E' to the 'W'. What does that spell?! REVIEW!