Chapter Thirteen

Casey's Point of View

It was another two weeks before Casey came home. By now, she had all of her memories back and she could even walk around for long periods of time. Loud noises and bright lights still gave her headaches, and her hair was barely two inches long, but she still had Derek's bandana to cover it up.

She headed up the stairs after telling her family that she wanted to be alone for a while. She entered her room and took a deep breath. It's good to be home. She sprawled out on her bed, clutching one of her pillows to her chest. The room was left just as she remembered it. There was a knock on her door. "Come in." She called. What happened to 'I want to be alone for a bit'? She wondered.

Lizzie entered the room and Casey smiled. She sat up and patted her bed, "What's up Liz?" She asked. Lizzie grinned and sat down next to her. She wrapped Casey in a hug and squeezed her tight.

"Casey, I'm so glad you're home. I've missed you so much. It's been so weird not having you around. Derek's actually been quiet and sort of nice. Mom cried a lot and that made Marti cry. Edwin even stopped making gas jokes. He said they weren't as funny if you weren't here to yell at him." Lizzie said, still holding on her sister's waist.

"I'm glad I'm home too, Liz, though I'm not really looking forward to Edwin's jokes." She grinned and Lizzie laughed. "Do you mind if I take a nap, Liz?" Casey asked, really just wanting to be alone. Lizzie nodded and left the room.

Casey closed her eyes and felt herself drifting off when she heard her door open again. She opened her eyes, frustrated. It was Derek. "Derek, I was trying to take a nap."

"Take a nap later, Case. You've been sleeping for the past month in that hospital." Derek responded, a smile on his face. The smile just annoyed Casey. She was getting tired.

"Just leave Derek, please? I am really tired."

"No, it's time for dinner. Get up. Come on, Nora asked me to come get you."

"Well, tell her that I'm not hungry."

"Can't do that, Case." Derek said with a smirk.

"You're just trying to be mean."

"No I'm not. You're just trying to be lazy."

"Derek, just go away."

"No."

"God! Why do you have to be so difficult?"

"You started it."

"No I didn't" Casey retorted, frowning.

"Yes, I believe you did. 'Derek, I was trying to take a nap'." Derek replied, poorly imitating Casey's voice.

"Well, I was."

"I think you're the one being difficult."

"No. I. Am. Not." Casey said through clenched teeth.

She stood up, ready to shove him out of the room if she needed to. "Just go, Derek." She said, almost yelling.

Derek stepped closer and grabbed her head, "Shut up, Casey." He said and kissed her hard. He released her and looked at her face for a response, but she just stood dumbfounded. He sighed and left the room, going down to the kitchen to get dinner.

Casey sat back down on her bed and reached up to touch her lips. Did Derek just kiss me? She didn't know what to think. What are his motives behind this? Does he like me or am I just another one of his toys? What is going on? So many thoughts were running through Casey's head. She wasn't tired anymore, that was for sure. She knew it would be uncomfortable, but she made her way to the kitchen anyway. If she didn't come down, Nora would come up and get her.

"What's for dinner?" Casey asked when she got into the kitchen.

"Chicken, but I thought you weren't hungry." Nora responded. So Derek had relayed the message.

"I wasn't, but I figure I should probably eat something, even if it's only a little." Casey said, purposely avoiding Derek's eyes.

Casey sat at the table across from Derek, the only seat open, and Nora passed her the plate of chicken. She took a small piece off the plate and cut it in half. She kept her eyes on her plate until she felt someone kick her shin from under the table. She grimaced, but held in her scream. She glared up at Derek, but her expression turned softer when she saw his face. He looked really hurt. She looked back down at her plate, not really wanting to feel guilty.

After dinner, everyone went to their rooms, except for Edwin and George who stayed in the living room and watched a football game. When Casey got into her room, she fell on her bed and closed her eyes. She didn't know what was going on, and she didn't want to admit that she liked how Derek kissed her, even if she didn't kiss him back.

As if on cue, Derek entered her room and closed the door behind him. "Say something Casey. Please!" Derek begged, looking at her.