Disclaimer: I don't own LWD or anything related :P Only this story is mine and mine alone :)

Chapter 11:

Kiss the cook

"Hello?"

"Um...Casey?"

"Yes?" Casey sat on Derek's bed as she listened. "Is Derek around?" The voice asked with humor, it was Derek's phone after all. Despite everything, she smiled.

"He's taking a shower...Sam?"

"Yeah. How are ya?" Relief came in like a wave. His conversational voice always made her smile.

"Well enough, and you?"

"Not too bad. Sorry about the TV, I heard about it." Ha. Leave it to Derek to mention the TV but not her injury.

"Yeah, well it sucks that some people can't seem to keep their stupidity inside their heads and feel the need to drag everyone else down with them."

"Haha, so it was Derek's fault after all." It wasn't a question and he chuckled none the less.

"Isn't everything?" She joked along.

"Well, tell him I do know a place where he can find the same TV at a great deal." She didn't know Derek had been trying to figure out a way out of the punishment that would surely come. Of course he was.

"Woah, nice! Where?" She walked to Derek's place to grab a pen and a piece of paper.

"Well, for the price he mentioned, the only place I know...its exact location is not that pretty... or safe."

"All right...well, it's fine. At this rate we can't really afford to be too choosy." She brushed the warning in his voice off.

"Okay, the store is about an hour and a half North-East from here, in Guelph."

"Woah, that far?" She hesitated.

"Yeah, I mean, operation 'nothing happened', right? If he really doesn't want to fess up to George and Nora about the expensive TV, that's the only place I can think of that could possibly work and in such a short amount of time." After he gave her the address she was still curious and sat on Derek's computer chair.

"So why would this place work? Why did you say it wasn't pretty, or safe?"

"Well…er...this place is..a store -yes..during the day, that is. But-" He hesitated.

"And?"

"I mean -Derek will know more when he calls me back, tell him to call me back, please."

"Sam." Her voice came out quietly but firmly, and he knew that she knew he was trying to hide important details from her, which from experience in having dated her, was one of her biggest pet peeves. Which is a polite understatement on his part; she actually hated it. And angry Casey was not a fun thing for Sam, more like a recipe for piles and piles of stress.

"Shit..Okay. -Oh, Sorry." He apologized mechanically for the use of language when he was around her, knowing she didn't approve of that either, though he knew that if Derek were there he would surely roll his eyes at him. For some reason his politeness annoyed her more.

"It's fine. Just tell me." She said, with a patience she didn't really feel. He didn't disappoint this time.

"This electronics store...is also a huge underground gambling spot during the night. Sometimes they give some store items as prices to winners. But I know -I mean- I've heard about these people...Casey tell me you won't go there." His voice shifted with significance, as if he knew something more he wasn't saying.

"Why? How do you know so much about this place, Sam?"

"…Ah..well."

"You've been there before, haven't you?"

"Okay, yes... I have. But only once! One of my cousins took me there, he lives in that town and we went to that store once to buy stuff and... found out about it." He left out the part where he actually went inside and participated, but that was not something he felt like sharing with Casey McDonald of all people.

"Well if it is what you say it is I can't let Derek go there by himself."

"Oh, No. No. Casey. You cannot go there, tell me you won't." He pressed, suddenly regretting he even called at all.

"He can't go there alone, Sam." She fought him.

"Casey, he's a dude. He'll be fine."

"But-"

"Casey, please. It is not safe for You there." She didn't like his tone, did he think she couldn't handle herself in a place like that? Sure, she didn't like the idea at all, either. But that was it, Derek going there by himself made her stomach queasy, especially because she knew he had a thing for gambling, no, for winning. Who knew if he ever came back. Of course going to an underground gambling house was completely ridiculous and dangerous. She knew that. She did. But she just couldn't let Derek go there alone. She wouldn't.

"Casey?" Sam's voice was pleading, but didn't he know by now that there wasn't an existing ability that could change Casey's mind once she's set on something? Only one person seemed to have that super power- and it wasn't him.

"Thank you, Sam. I'll give him your message." Despite her better judgement screaming at her, she ignored Sam's warning and avoided making a promise.

"Okay, Thank you." She heard the heavy relief in his voice and she felt a pinch of guilt, but she really hadn't agreed to anything so she let it go.
"I would go with him myself but I gotta work today." Sam tried.

"I understand. Thanks, Sam! talk to you later."

"Okay, see ya."

She heard the line go dead on the other end and sighed. Still sitting on Derek's computer chair, she looked back at the note where she wrote the address and tried to picture just what sort of place it would be to warrant such a warning from Sam. Derek walked in, skin glistening, with only a towel around his waist. He closed the door behind him and she jolted out of his chair, to then freeze on the spot. Derek looked up to see her and jumped back, startled.

"Damn it, Casey! Don't scare me like that!" He held a hand on his chest.

"S-s-sorry!" She stammered.

"What are you doing in my room?"

"I...I..."

Her answer should have been a simple one but hell she was too distracted looking at his bare chest, his fit abdomen, the towel hanging low over his hips. How can he look like that when he eats like a pig?! Her head screamed. Hockey? That's what hockey does?! Her eyes ignored all the brand new cuts and bruises, and noticed other interesting fainted scars that told tales of old injuries. Had that been hockey too?

Derek noticed the way she was looking at him and it bristled the hairs at the back of his neck. Does she...?
The way her eyes scanned his bare torso, the blush on her cheeks... made something flip in his stomach and he couldn't help the self-satisfying smirk that slowly etched itself on his face. All the tension and anger he previously felt were momentarily forgotten in a cloud of elation he didn't know he could have at knowing a girl wanted him. This girl. Or at least, she seemed to.

"Case?" Her eyes went back up to his eyes as she was brought back to reality by the way his voice said her name. He couldn't help himself...he just couldn't. The words left his lips before he could stop them.

"Do you like what you see?" His voice came out like a breath, but she heard it well and blinked. It took her a full five seconds to register what he had just said and the smirk that seemed to get bigger on his face. Embarrassment hit her like a lighting and she felt the heat from her hairline to her toes as she looked away.

"Agh, you're so full of yourself, Venturi!" She spewed his name like poison.

Abort. Abort. Retreat. His mind told him.

"Really? Because I'm pretty sure you were checking me out." The words left his lips. He took two steps toward her. He didn't seem to be able to stop them, those slippery words, those treacherous feet. Inside, his mind was screaming in horror. Just what in the fuck are you doing?!

Her face went beet red, the vibrant blue of her eyes piercing into his as she took shallow breaths, anger beginning to replace her embarrassment. Oh...he just loved that look... how he loved it.

"I was looking at your bruises, you jackass." Her eyes glared, her nostrils flared, but her body fidgeted, he noticed. Unlike what his best friend felt about it, for Derek, angry Casey was simply so much...fun.

"Right." He drawled, a small glint in his eyes.

"Gahh." She walked away from him, exasperated. The awkward way she walked because of the sturdy boot undermined what should've looked menacing. She crossed her arms to prevent him from seeing how much her hands were shaking. She refused to look more below his neckline.
"I was in my room but your phone rang and I picked it up, since you were in the shower."

This information completely sidetracked him and knocked whatever cheeky side of him that had momentarily taken over him.

"Oh- Who was it? Dude, if it was Kendra..." He started, with annoyance in his features.

"It- what?" A sharp sensation hit her on the chest. Oh. Right. She had completely forgotten about Derek's dear ole' girlfriend. She felt her heart sink to her feet as she now stared at the floor. He misunderstood her reaction.

"It was Kendra? Man, why can't she-"

"Why do you like her so much?" She blurted out without thinking. He was completely taken aback, he could've sworn he saw a form of resentment on her face, something akin to accusation, though why, he couldn't understand.

Remembering those times he had implied something more was happening, those times he seemed to be about to kiss her, realizing Kendra was still his girlfriend, and whatever the hell seemed to be happening now with Emily made her furious. Just what the hell were you thinking, Casey Mcdonald! You're so stupid! Before he could say anything she cut him off.

"On second thought, don't tell me; I don't care what you do or not do with your girlfriends, so." For a moment Derek felt a pang of bitterness in his chest. Fuck.

But as he observed her, he noticed the panic and anger reflected clearly in her eyes. The Master of Lies could not be easily fooled...the rest of her body could pretend, stiff and guarded, except her eyes. She could never hide emotions from her gaze, at least not from him. She had gotten so much better at it that he almost believed her, but before he could point it out to her, again, she spoke first.

"It was Sam, by the way."

"What? Oh, what did he say?" This completely sidetracked him, again.

"He gave me the address of the place where we can find the TV to replace the other one." She answered mechanically.

Derek looked up to the heavens.
"Ohh! Yes! Thank you!"

A treacherous smile found its way on her face. Forgetting for a moment that all he had on was a towel, he walked closer, and put his hands on her shoulders. "So where is it?" He asked with excitement. Casey came back to her senses, her eyes traveling over a water droplet that slid down his collarbone.

"I-I think you should change first..." She removed his hands and walked a considerable distance away to stare at his posters as if she had never seen them before. He experienced the still unfamiliar territory of the crimson cheeks, which he quickly overcame by hiding it with a big smirk.

"Why? Does it bother you, Spacey?"

"Ugh! You're impossible!" She said as she limped her way out of his room and slammed the door shut. As soon as she left, his smirk disappeared and his eyes went wide. He let out the air he didn't know he was holding as his hand scratched the back of his neck.

Idiot, what the hell is wrong with you... He asked himself.

Casey slammed her own door shut and leaned on it, trying to calm down as she felt her heart racing. If she hated hockey before, she loathed it now.

As Lizzie, Edwin, and Marti "played monopoly" upstairs, or more like, gather data and try to come up with another one of their sneaky plans, Derek went to the kitchen where Casey was eating a sandwich at the island counter.

"Okay, I'm dressed. No reason to sweat anymore, Case." He said with a soft smirk. She glared at him.
"What did Sam tell you? Where is the store?" He relented and decided to change the subject to safer territory as he sat in front of her on the island counter. Safe distance.

"Well I put the sticky note in my notebook, but it's on my bed though. Care to bring it?"

He gave her a tired look.

"I got hungry," She said as excuse. "sue me." before getting a bite of her sandwich. As if on cue, his stomach started growling at the sight of food. Her mouth started twitching until she couldn't help but laugh.

"Is mister Venturi hungry?" Before she knew what happened, he snatched the sandwich off her hand and ran to the living room and up the stairs.
"Hey!" She yelled after him, but soon she had to sigh in defeat. Not even two minutes had passed when he returned with the notebook in his hands and the sandwich gone. Casey was already working on preparing a new one. This time, Derek sat right next to her and placed the notebook on the counter.

"You could've said you wanted one, Derek." He shrugged.

"Sorry, I had not eaten anything all day." If she was surprised that he had said 'sorry', she didn't show it.

"Neither had I but you don't see me stealing other people's food." A smirk appeared on his face.

"You know it's part of my job description."

She glared at him.

"Talking about jobs, mister slave, make me a new one." Derek snorted.

"Bossy much?"

Casey put on her best pout and pointed at her booted foot. Derek rolled his eyes, took the butter knife from her hand and began to make her a sandwich, trying to ignore the self-satisfying smile on her face.

"Actually, Spacey, you ate the pancakes I made you, if I remember correctly." Derek muttered. A blush appeared on her cheeks and she looked away. He continued to make the sandwich anyway, despite his last statement.

"You call those disfigured and burnt things, pancakes? "

"Hey, you ate them didn't you?" He was determined to look at her eyes.

"I- well, hunger makes you do things you otherwise never would." She stated, haughtily.

"So you did eat them." Derek couldn't help but smile as he looked at the sandwich in process. He hadn't known if she had eaten them at all, the fact that she actually did made him inexplicably happy.

"...They were gross though." She added to fruitlessly save face. After a moment where she thought he was ignoring her, he replied.

"Nah. They were delicious. I bet you enjoyed them and your tummy was grateful." He teased good-naturedly and she scoffed, but a smile was visibly growing on her face.

"Sorry, Venturi, but your kitchen skills suck."

"Tsk, tsk. The apron says 'kiss the cook', not 'insult the cook', Space Case." He said close to her ear.

"Pfft. Your kitchen abilities will hardly earn you a kiss." She lightly pushed on his shoulder, a grin on her face. Is she... flirting with me?

"Then what do I have to do... to earn one?" His eyes remained on her profile as she rested her head on her hand; his hands stilled, the sandwich now done on the plate.

"Earn what?"

"A kiss."

Casey turned to look at him, all humor gone as she noticed the seriousness of his face. He was so close and his dark eyes were intently staring at hers. Something in her stomach flipped. Those eyes...She felt something akin to how an insect feels under a magnifying glass.

"Ah…um, I.."

"Tell me." He whispered.

How did the conversation turn into this? Her heart got stuck on her throat and she found herself at a loss of words. Had they not been in this situation before? He looked like he was genuinely pleading.

So fucking beautiful...Her brown hair fell over her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes were wide open as long, dark lashes complimented them. Her cheeks were a deep pink as she was obviously blushing. Her lips looked so warm and soft, inviting... Not being able to wait for her reply, he rested his arm on the counter and began to lean in.

This was what she wanted...but hadn't he tried to kiss her before, on the exact, same place? Just what was it with kitchens and counters and Derek and almosts? Her mind was a jumbled mess.

If he was trying to kiss her, then maybe he did feel some sort of attraction to her. But yet again, wasn't he after anything that wore a skirt? Was he playing now as well? Was he going to just tease her again and walk away? He'd never said if he felt something positive for her, all the contrary. She expected him to at least say something, anything that would make her understand just what in the world he wanted. But he never had.
And... he already has Kendra! and what's with Emily now?! -and God knows who else!
Right as he was about to kiss her, she put the notebook in front of his face and he backed off. Oh, Shit.

"Here's the address!" She exclaimed. "It is kind of far, over an hour actually." She rambled and turned away from him, her eyes inspecting every marvelous piece of technology in the kitchen. Derek sighed in defeat and reluctantly took the notebook to check the address.

"…Guelph, huh? Did he say anything about the place? Why did he choose it?"

"Well, he said it was because it was very... cheap…" She debated whether to mention the gambling thing was a wise thing to say at this point. Besides, if it was that cheap they could buy the TV and be out of there in a blink, right? He didn't have to know everything. He didn't have to know he could gamble for the TV instead of paying for it. Right?

Derek, however, noticed her trailing off and the facial expressions that indicated she was discussing a rather complex subject with herself in her head.

"And? What else?"

"I- n-nothing. That's all." She looked away knowing he would see right through her. He got closer, rested his arm on the counter right in front of her and stared holes at her profile as she kept on avoiding his gaze. Too close. Too close. Get away. Get away!

Casey's heart started to hammer inside her chest.

"Really? Then why do I feel like you're not telling me something?"

"You're being paranoid, Derek."

"And you're being weird...er than normal."

"I am not. Now, back off." Derek got even closer, relishing in seeing her squirm.

Darn it!

"Why, I didn't know I had this kind of effect on you, Case." His voice was rasp, and her breath hitched in her throat. She coughed in self-preservation.

"The only effect you have on me... is the desire to empty my stomach whenever I see you-" Unseen, her hands balled into fists under the counter.

"It's rather fascinating," He continued, ignoring her; his eyes centered on the pulse that visibly accelerated at the base of her neck. "-either you're nervous because you're hiding something from me," His lips drew near her ear as he whispered, "or because I am this close..." Casey momentarily froze as she felt his breath on her ear, the heat radiating from him. A shaky breath left her lips.

Derek was in auto-mode, who the hell knew what he was doing, but all he was capable of discerning was that he more than liked being this close, the way she was responding...

"Which one is it, Case?" He tugged lightly on one of the strands of her hair, successfully waking her up from her reverie.

And that's where it all got to. Pride.

There was no way she'd admit the truth and agree on both options. Was it better to take the easy exit and only chose the second option? If he knew he did have that effect on her, oh more than he could ever know, she could almost picture the huge smirk that would appear on his smug and stupid little face. She could see the taunts, the pranks, what a nightmare their last semester living under the same roof could be. The ridiculous, giant elephant in the room that would sit on her head whenever they visited home for the holidays and crossed gazes, or whenever they happened to stumble upon each other at random occasions. Such humiliation from him would be unbearable.

"You being this close is disgusting, Derek. Back the hell up - I'm not hiding anything." Her voice had a calculated coldness to it that it almost felt like a slap to the face. His whole game plan faltered. Fuck...what the hell did i just... But before he backed away, he noticed her nerves increasing... as if she had committed a crime, and he had just caught her red handed. And if he was too close, wouldn't she have pushed or shoved him away by now? He finally noticed her hands in fists on her lap. Oh?

Of course he wouldn't let this go. Screw the hollow feeling at the base of his stomach, this was surely something good.

"Then why won't you look at me?"

Casey could not let him win.

She would not.

She refrained from taking the deep breath she definitely needed and turned to look at him straight in the eye with a mask of calmness she was nowhere near to feeling. Only then did she realize Derek's nose was actually touching hers due to how close he was. Unconsciously, he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, which blew across Casey's face.

Did he want her to explode and spill everything?

It worked.

"T-t-they also gamble the products of their store!" she breathed out as she scooted away from him, stepped off the stool and tried to rush out of the kitchen. She didn't get too far as Derek grabbed both her arms and turned her to face him.

"Aha! And you wanted to hide this from me, why?"

"Y-you know why!"

"No I don't, care to explain?"

She removed his hands from her and looked at him square in the eye.

"Well…you tend to have a problem when it comes to...gambling."

"What? No, I don't. What are you talking about?"

"You can get very competitive, and won't stop until you win."

"Oh, come on. That's nonsense. Besides, tell me, what are the odds of me losing?"

Reluctantly she had to admit he had a certain skill for these games; nothing to be proud of, of course.

"P-pretty slim."

"Exactly! This is perfect! What am I waiting for?" Derek checked his watch. It was about to be three in the afternoon.

"You can't go alone!" She panicked. Derek looked back at her, surprised.

"Thanks for the concern Spacey, but I'll be fine. I'd rather you stay here with the kids."

"I'm coming!" You might never get out of there!

Derek loved the look of concern she couldn't hide from her eyes, but he still found it all infuriatingly confusing. He crossed his arms.

"Who's gonna watch the kids, Casey?"

Oddly enough they sounded like a married couple.

"I, well - Emily! I'll ask her to watch them while we're gone!" She said as she grabbed for the phone and gave her back to him.

"Oh?...ok."

Derek thought it was absurd to have Casey watch over him, but instead of feeling the grating annoyance he normally felt, he couldn't shake that weird warmth on his chest or that thing that flipped in his stomach.

She wants to go with me..

He couldn't hide the smile on his face anymore. This meant he could spend time with her out of everyone's noses. Alone. The smile disappeared and swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

"Hey, Em? could I ask you a huge favour?"

I'm aliiive! I had been through a very stressful time with college stuff but is now, thanks to God, all fixed. Plus, writer's block is not so peachy either..

Here's your update! (:

What do you think? Your comments help me improve my writing and I also like to take your thoughts into consideration :) write me something!

Love you all!

~AmoreK