Derek walked by the bathroom and heard Casey splashing around in the bathtub. He turned on heel and walked away trying not to think about that. His head was spinning from his kiss with Casey yesterday. The last thing he needed was to picture her naked. Her lips had been so sweet and soft. And had tasted faintly of the strawberry lip gloss she=d worn to school that day.
Derek hated lip gloss but there was something about Casey=s that made his insides twist together like he was on a roller coaster right before the biggest drop. Her cheek had been so soft under his fingertips. Like the antlers of a deer. But in a nice way.
His room held no potential for happiness in it. Carrie had sent him an email explaining the plan for tonight. She was coming over to get ready with Casey and then Danny was going to come over and they=d decide whether or not to car pool.
The suspense was absolutely killing him. He=d lain awake last night, unable to sleep knowing Casey was in the next room. He=d known she was awake, he=d heard her bustling around, probably making a list or something Casey-like.
What would happen if he just took things into his own hands? Would it be so terrible not to have a romantic background when he confessed his feelings to Casey? Probably.
Casey lived for romance. And Derek guessed, though not happily, that if it made Casey happy in the long run, he could survive a night with Danny Norris. Carrie had promised he=d be no trouble but her voice had caught when she=d said his name. That wasn=t a good sign but Derek wasn=t about to get into whatever weird business those two had.
He was curious however, how Carrie had roped Danny into doing it. He guessed drugs but that wasn=t true. Carrie must have some real dirt against him. Maybe if he was really nice to Carrie she=d tell Derek some of Danny=s dirty little secrets.
And we=re not going to go there, he thought quickly as he headed down the stairs.
AHey D, Edwin called from his usual Saturday morning position, in front of the TV, flanked by Lizzie on one side and Marti on the other. AYou=re up early. You sick?
AShut up, Derek muttered. He was awake enough to think about Casey (but really when wasnt he thinking about Casey?) he just wasn=t ready to deal with perky younger siblings. He secretly wondered if Edwin=s puberty was delayed. No fourteen year old boy should watch as much kiddie TV as Edwin.
AWoah, Edwin muttered turning back t the TV. ASomeone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
AI=ll say, Lizzie muttered. Derek ignored them both and headed towards the kitchen. Only to find Nora giggling over something his dad had just whispered in her ear. Derek turned away pretending to be disgusted but really he=d just been hit with a terrible, terrible thought.
What would Nora and his dad have to say about him and Casey?
()()()()()()
Casey splashed happily in the bath. Relaxing jasmine bubble bath scent filled her nostrils and she wiggled her nose to check on the status of her facial mask. It was hardening nicely.
She ran a hand down her leg trying to find any stubble she might have missed when she=d shaved but found it completely clear, as was the other. She smiled again. Everything was going to plan. She lay back and closed her eyes.
Derek=s face appeared before her eyes and she smiled.
Derek, Derek, Derek. The idea of him had once repulsed her so much and now she was so used to the idea. So relaxed to it.
So drawn to it.
He was so closed to being hers.
She held out her fist and closed it around air and giggled. She was giddy and she didn=t care. Her stomach flopped happily. She raised a newly shaved leg and ran her hand down it, removing all the bubbles. She was pink all over like a newborn baby. She studied her finger tips they were all pruney.
She smiled. Derek had such nice hands. Long fingers and frame that flowed nicely when he used them as he talked. They also felt really nice touching her cheek yesterday. A little rough but warm and secure.
Casey lay her head back and closed her eyes. She could imagine what was going to happen tonight. A wonderfully romantic meal, Derek would sit across the table from Casey and would eye Danny evilly the entire meal as he played footsies under the table with Casey. Then Danny and Carrie would somehow disappear and Derek would take Casey under a large tree, take her face in his hands and kiss her senseless before confessing to her that he loved her. And she would whisper the words back to him.
AI love you Derek.
Casey shot up in the tub.
When had that happened?
()()()()()()()
Carrie walked down her hallway towel drying her hair. Someone was pounding on the front door rudely. It wasn=t urgent so Carrie wasn=t in a hurry to answer it. It was probably one of her brothers little friends.
Oh the horrors of being home alone. That meant she had to deal with everyone who came to the door. The pounding got louder and Carrie cursed under breath as she raced down the stairs and flung the door open.
AWhat? Her breath caught in her throat as she stared up into Danny=s eyes. He was wearing a pale blue polo with the collar flipped up and faded jeans. Carrie closed her eyes and started to shut the door.
ANo, Danny stuck out his foot before Carrie could shut the door. AI need to talk to you. Carrie flung open the door. The wind was cold today and with her wet hair she was freezing.
AThen hurry up and say whatever you=re here to say. I=m cold, she snapped. Danny walked inside. Carrie blinked, a little stunned. APlease come in asshole, she muttered as she shut the door.
Danny looked around the room and smiled. AI always liked your house.
Carrie crossed her arms uncomfortably across her chest and wished she=d thought to put on a bra before coming downstairs or at least a sweatshirt instead of the flimsy t-shirt she was wearing.
AReally? she looked around. AIts too bad you=ve got to leave so quickly. Danny stopped looking around and stared at her.
AIs anyone home?
ANo. And I=m not allowed guests so you=d better get going. Danny chuckled and walked into the living room and flopped down on the lime green bean bag. The chair which he knew was Carrie=s favourite.
AI don=t think I count as a guest anymore Carrie, he said looking up at her. AYour parents would be delighted if I was in your house. Carrie winced at the painful truth and injustice in his words.
AWell I don=t want you here, she snapped as she sat delicately on her beat up couch. AI think you should just leave and then after tonight kindly stay out of my life.
Danny winced. AJeez Care. You sure know how to kick a guy when he=s down. He scuffed his foot across the worn hardwood and stared at her with his huge blue eyes.
Carrie felt something snap inside of her. She flung herself at him, straddled him and gripped the collar of his shirt.
ALeave, she hissed. ALeave my house. I will never forgive you. You insulted me when you knew I was weak and now expect me to act as if it never happened? Good luck with that.
Danny didn=t seem to notice Carrie had every intention of killing him. Instead he smiled and tucked a wet strand of hair behind her ear. His fingertips brushed across her cheek and Carrie felt her stomach flip. She was quickly becoming aware of the position she had put herself in and wasn=t sure how to feel about it.
AI would leave Carrie, Danny whispered as he leaned towards her. ABut your on top of me and I can=t leave knowing you hate me.
AI=ve always hated you Danny, Carrie whispered wishing she could believe her own words. Danny smiled.
ACarrie you couldn=t hate me if you tried. Isn=t it obvious? We=re perfect.
Carrie blinked and felt her death grip on his shirt loosen and her hands trail down to rest on his chest. AI don=t know what you=re talking about.
Danny ran his hand through his hand. AJeez Carrie, he muttered looking nervous. AI thought it was totally obvious. I like you. I really, really like you.
()()()()()()
Casey stood up and grabbed a warm fresh towel from the bathroom counter. Her entire body was a comfortable warm but she wasn=t sure if she could entirely thank the bath for that. She loved Derek. What happened to being a hidden crush? She guessed logically she hadn=t really had a crush on Derek for a long time. She wrapped another towel around her wet hair in a turban, threw her pyjamas in the laundry basket and walked from the bathroom in a halo of steam.
She opened her bedroom door to see a distraught Derek sitting on her bed with his head in his hands. Casey=s heart fell. The date was off. He was in love with someone else. He was gay. Something had gone terribly wrong.
ADerek, she whispered. He looked up and didn=t stop staring at her. His mouth open as if to say something but no words came out of it. Instead he stood up and walked towards her. Casey=s stomach flipped and flopped over and over again like a live fish on dry land but her legs were locked and her mouth dry. She was paralysed under his gaze.
He pushed her door shut at the same time his soft lips found hers in a heated kiss. Speech felt him push the towel off her head and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he pushed her into her door.
ADerek, she whispered as he trailed kisses along her jaw. ADerek, we have to... Her voice left her as Derek slipped a arm around her waist and pulled her up against him and pressed his lips against hers again. She tried again as they parted for air, staring deeply into each others eyes and panting.
ADerek, she whispered, Awe should wait. Not now. Later. Tonight. Her nerves were buzzing and her brain felt fried. She couldn=t think. Not when Derek was staring at her, his eyes half lidded and his lips
Derek nodded and pressed another kiss on her lips before slipping past her and out of her room.
Casey stood stunned afterwards. Her lips felt swollen and she could care less. She was elated and electrified. She wanted to run after Derek but her legs were so weak she couldn=t move. Instead she shuffled slightly forward before face planting onto her bed and sighing happily.
She was defiantly in love.
