Hold Me Close

Chapter 11

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Casey looked at him but instead found his lips pressed to hers. She was startled at first. Unsure of what to do. Noel's eyes were closed and she could see him getting a little discouraged of her not kissing back, so then she deepened in the kiss but kept her eyes open for a few seconds until thinking it through.

XOXO

Casey slowly opened the front door and turned her whole body around to close it.

When she turned back around, Derek was standing right in front of her.

"Ahh!" she yelled startled. "De-rek!"

"How was your date?" he asked curiosity in his eyes.

"What? It was fine." she said trying to move around him but he just took another step in the direction that she was going.

"Did you have fun?"

"Derek, what's up with you? It was fine." as she made her way around him and started walking towards the kitchen, he asked her a question she wasn't expecting to hear.

"Did he kiss you?" Derek asked seriously.

Casey turned her head about an inch to hear him better.

"Why do you think that?" she asked.

"Because you're still blushing."

She turned her head until she could glance his way.

"Just cause I'm blushing, doesn't mean he kissed me."

"Oh, it does. Remember when Liz and Ed took an interest in your romantic life? Well, another thing that they always put down was that you would blush after being kissed. Max, Sam, every time."

"So he kissed me. Why do you care? Your creeping me out."

"Because you said that you didn't want his help anymore."

"Derek, he kissed me. What was I supposed to do? Pull away and shout get away from me, freak? It was just an innocent kiss."

"An innocent kiss can go a long way, Casey. You're saying that it didn't mean anything but to Noel, he's probably jumping up and down screaming Weeee, she likes me, she likes me!!"

"What is your point, Derek? I can't change the past! Why are you doing this? Every time you come home from a date, I don't ask what you did with some random girl on the sofa or in your car, do I? Stop treating me like a child. You sound like your jealous."

"Jealous? You think, I'm jealous? Pshh…pshhh." he said trying to disguise his newfound attitude, that he didn't quite understand. "Well, if I'm going to be playing your pretend boyfriend, I want to know, what you've been doing with other dudes."

"What you think, I sleep around, Derek?"

"No."

"Do you think, I've been around the block a couple of times?"

"No, Casey, I just don't-"

"Save it, Derek. Are you going to help me without getting all psycho or not? Noel kissed me, I kissed him back. It's nothing more, I'm interested in someone else."

Derek nodded.

"Right…Max." he said with bitterness in his tone.

Casey made herself nod even though it was a lie.

"Yeah…Max. So can we just learn not to freak out on each other anymore. I don't want to be strained with you."

"Sure." he said knowing matter of factly that things never worked out that way.

"So, Leena called me earlier and told me that Max has a reservation at Palamino's at 7:30pm."

"Wow, that really fancy Italian restaurant?"

"That's the one. We're going."

"But, Derek that's a formal restaurant. They won't even let you get in unless you're dressed fancy, not to mention a reservation to that place is impossible to get."

"Not unless you're best friends with Palamino's assistant manager Ms. Leena Danz."

"Shut up!' Casey yelled excitedly pushing Derek. "I totally forgot she worked there! I have to get ready. Oh my God! What am I going to wear?" she asked running upstairs before turning around and running back down to where Derek was standing, and she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"OH…Sorry, instinct…Max…" she said.

He nodded pretending to understand when really in his head he was screaming "OH, MY GOD!"

Casey gave him an apologetic look before running back up the stairs to get ready.

"Oh, wow." he said shaking his head out of disbelief.

XOXO

It was 6:02pm and Casey had jumped in the shower and had done her make up already. Now she had to find a dress, do her hair and find the perfect shoes without breaking a sweat…easy enough, right?

Casey sorted through her closet picking out things and then throwing them aside, until a pile of gorgeous clothing had gathered.

"No…No….Ewe… Awe…nope. Eh…nah. PERFECT!"

Casey finished her hair and put it together the same way that it looked for prom and then slipped into her dress. She put on her pair of black stilettos and looked herself over in the mirror.

"That should do it." she smiled at her work before grabbing her little black hand bag and black sheer boa.

"We're going to be late!" yelled Derek from below.

Casey made her way out of her room and slowly walked to the top of the stairs.

"Ready." she said in a smooth voice. Derek turned away from his glance at the television at the to gorgeous for words Casey. She had on a plain black dress that clung to her in all the right places. The back of the dress was completely opened except for the obvious. The straps tied around her neck in a not completely tight bow and if you were in Derek's position, you would also have your jaw lying on the floor.

"You look…"

"Derek." she said meeting him at the bottom of the stairs. "Tonight, we're not us." she said with a warm smile.

He nodded and didn't care that she was Casey his step sister. He only cared at the fact that this was Casey…his date.

"You look really, good." he said.

"Me? I like what you're wearing." she said complimenting him. He had on the same thing he had worn to Prom without Sally attached to him. But this time he looked better. It suit him, more.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Um, could you help me latch my necklace, I can never get it." she said handing him some white pearls that matched her earrings.

He took the necklace and gulped when she turned around. She lifted her hair up and he could see the back of her neck with the few forgotten strands of hair that were left. He put the necklace on around her neck and attempted to latch it with his shaky hands.

"Thanks." she said once he got it. "I guess we're ready."

They headed for the door and then to the car, ready for the restaurant that it would all happen at.

XOXO

When they walked into the restaurant, it was very crowded. The round tables with candles and roses were over to the left and the dance floor with Italian music playing was to the right with people romantically slow dancing.

There was a low murmur of casual talk and the lighting was perfect. In other words, it was the most authentic Italian restaurant you would find and it was a surprise to some that it wasn't in Italy.

"Derek. Casey." greeted Leena. "Now, Derek you told me you were taking a girl out, I had no idea that it was going to be your step-sister." Leena said giving Casey the Tell-me-everything-look.

"Step-sister? What that's crazy talk. This is my "date" Casey McDonald."

She laughed warmly.

"Okay, Sir, your reserved table is right this way." Leena walked them to the last chattery part of the restaurant The private section more like.

"Your waitress will be right with you." she said handing over two menus.

"Thank you." Casey said.

"Casey? Derek?"

"Max!" Casey said enthusiastically but not really caring if he was there since…well, she was out with Derek.

"Casey!" Emily said excitedly. Max and Emily had a table near Derek and Casey's, but not completely so close that you could hear every detail of each others conversation. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Um, Derek just, um, thought that…"

"I would take Casey out on the date she's been deserving." he said coming in smooth.

"Awe! That is so romantic!" Emily said.

"Uh-huh. I see." Max said curiously.

The private section was filling up fast. It was a Saturday night after all. As more people came in, the two groups mostly kept to themselves.

"Relax, Derek. We'll pick you up a cheeseburger when this is over." Casey said trying to calm Derek down. He had on this nervous face.

Why oh why that could be…who knows, right? Uh-huh.

"Are you okay?" she asked him.

"Do you want to dance?" asked Derek.

"Uh…okay." Casey replied standing up as Derek took one of her hands and led her over to the dance floor. A very romantic song started playing thanks to the live band.

Derek pulled Casey closer and spoke to her quietly.

"I'm not exactly sure, how this works. Sally did it all most of the time." he admitted.

"You just, hold me close and wrap your arms around my waist." she said helping him place his hands. "As I put my arms around your neck and we…sway to the music." she said laughing.

"You know Max can't seem to keep his eyes off of you."

"Oh, great now I feel self conscious." she kept quite for a few seconds feeling the mood. "You know this doesn't feel as awkward as I thought it would." she lightly laughed

Derek pulled her closer and wrapped his hands around the small of her back where he could touch her skin. She was very warm. He almost thought he should let go, but resisted when Casey put her hands on his arms and slid them down to where his hands were so they could go around her tighter.

Derek almost skipped a breath but then knew he would want to stay conscious for this and fainting was not an option right now. Casey brought her hands back up to his chest, where she left them while she let her head rest on his shoulder.

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the overwhelming feeling that was very new to her and unexplainable. Derek rested his chin on her shoulder and made the moment even more intimate than before.

He now had to reconsider everything. His reward for getting Max and Casey back together would never be as good as getting Casey. What was one to do?

Casey opened her eyes and adjusted her head so she was looking up at Derek, he connected with her eyes and at a moment of true and utter weakness he moved in. He slowly bent his head down and pressed his warm lips to hers.

Casey had never known that a kiss could feel like that. She thought that after she kissed Max, nothing would be better. That wasn't true. Derek's was over the top. A true delight.

She leaned up more to deepen the kiss and that's when she realized that she was falling in love with Derek Venturi. Falling hard for her step-brother.

A/N-Rushed? Do you think so? I hope not. Sorry it just seemed like it would be a good time to put that in. Review because if the kiss is this intense and romantic in public, one can only imagine what's going to happen when they're alone…so review and I'll make sure that you get more than you bargained for.