A/N this story is finally coming to a close. Just a few chapters left and its done. Im kinda sad. I don't own LWD.
"Casey, can we please go back now? I can't feel my toes!"
"Are you serious? Your step-brother is missing and all you care about is your toes?"
Casey marched through the busy streets of Toronto with her little sister reluctantly trailing after her. Casey had called Derek's cell thirteen more times and left him twenty-one texts and sixteen emails. He hadn't responded once. She had been out all day and when Lizzie's classes finished up, Casey had dragged her along as well. It was now past ten o'clock at night and Lizzie was exhausted and freezing.
"Casey, we're obviously not going to find him tonight. Let's go home! It looks like Derek doesn't want to be found and he's doing a pretty good job of hiding!" Lizzie cried, frustrated.
"But Liz-"
"No buts! I can tell your frozen solid as well, so just go home and I'll talk to you tomorrow." Lizzie said.
Lizzie got on a bus to head back to her dorm and Casey walked to the subway station but something caught her eye. She was passing by the restaurant that she and Derek had eaten at the night of his hockey game and Casey thought she saw him. She looked closer. The man did have the same shaggy brown hair as Derek. And he was about the build as well. The waitress came and dropped the bill down at his table and he paid and left. He was walking the opposite way of Casey but she turned around and chased after him.
"Derek!" She called out to him but he was too far away to hear. She ran as fast as she could down the crowded street and grabbed onto his jacket.
"Derek, didn't you hear me?" She panted. But she looked up and gasped. This was not Derek Venturi. This man had a full beard and green eyes instead of brown. "I-I'm so sorry!" Casey exclaimed, blushing furiously. She backed away from the stranger and ran off.
By the time she arrived at her apartment she was exhausted, freezing and humiliated. The elevator doors opened and she marched down the hallway to her penthouse apartment only to found a man hunched against the door.
"Derek!" She yelped in surprise.
"Wassup, Sapcey?"
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? DO YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY IS FREAKING OUT? I'VE BEEN OUT LOOKING FOR YOU ALL DAY YOU JERK! I'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK!" She screamed at him.
"Chill, Case. I was at motel."
"ARGH, DEREK! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE EVRYTHING SO DIFFICULT?"
Derek's eyes narrowed. "At least I don't go around rejecting people because someone told me to."
"You don't need someone to tell you to reject someone. You do just fine on your own." Casey said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What are you talking about?" Derek said, exasperated.
"The other night in your room. You said kissing me was a mistake and you never had any feelings for me." Casey said accusatorily.
"Well, that's how you feel about me, isn't it?" Derek shot back.
Casey didn't know what to say. She was too shy to admit that she had feelings for him but didn't want to be the first one to say it out loud.
"Is there a reason you're here?" Casey said, ignoring his question.
"I like the city."
"Uh-huh."
Casey and Derek stared at each other silently, each one daring the other to speak first.
"Fine." Derek said and took a deep breath. "I came here to see you. Happy?"
Yes in fact she was. But she wouldn't tell him that.
"What do you mean?" She asked carefully.
He dropped his gaze and stared at his shoes. "I mean... I felt bad about what I said to you and I wanted apologize."
"Oh." Casey couldn't fight off the feeling of disappointment. Somewhere in the back of her mind she had hoped that he had come to Toronto to tell her that he was in love with her.
"So... so I said I was sorry. I guess I'll go now." Derek said awkwardly and started towards the elevator.
"Wait!" Casey cried. "Do you – do you at least want to come in for tea or something? At least call our parents to tell them you're alright!"
They walked into her apartment and she went into the kitchen.
"Do you want something to eat?" She called out to him.
"Sure!" He yelled back from the family room as he flipped channels.
Casey opened up the cupboard door and pulled out pancake mix. She then proceeded to make it and added some chocolate chips. She was pouring the batter onto the pan and when they were golden brown called for her step-brother.
"Mmm, what smells so good?" He asked.
"I made chocolate chip pancakes with extra chocolate chips, just the way you like them!" Casey said cheerfully.
"How did you know chocolate ship pancakes are my favourite food? I mean, obviously you know, but how did you remember?" Derek asked, confused.
Casey stopped for a second. "I-I don't know. I just... knew that you liked chocolate chip pancakes. It was like just a regular thing, I didn't even have to think about it. Do you think this means that my memory is coming back stronger now? I've remembered many things recently, this is good!" Casey cried.
She beamed at him and he had the strangest look in his eyes before he strode over to her and kissed her. She stiffened in surprise and he backed off.
"Sorry." He muttered, his face absolutely beat red.
"You kissed me." She murmured, her eyes wide and her fingers touching her lips.
"You just looked so... i don't know. But you made me pancakes and when you got all excited about your memory it was kind of cute. So I just... kissed you." Derek said awkwardly.
"But I thought kissing me was a mistake."
Derek groaned, "It was never a mistake. I really like you, Case. But I thought that you would react the same way you did three years ago so I told you I felt nothing for you."
Casey couldn't breathe for a second.
"Alright then. I'm gonna go now. This has been completely embarrassing." He muttered awkwardly.
"Derek!" Casey cried. She didn't know what else to say. He looked at her with hopeful puppy dog eyes and she completely forgot about words.
She wrapped her arms around him and without worrying about anything, pressed her lips against his. With a moan of pleasure, Derek yanked her closer and ran his hands down the length of her spine, making her shiver. She felt his tongue touch her bottom lip and eagerly allowed him entrance. The kiss was wild and crazy and they were both so involved, they didn't hear someone else walk into the apartment and into the kitchen.
"Casey! Get off of him!" Truman shouted angrily.
Casey jumped away from Derek in surprise. "Truman!" She said, shocked. "I thought I told you to leave." She said with a glare.
"I came back to get a couple things and I find you all over your brother. That's disgusting, Casey! You're better then that!" Truman said coldly.
"Don't talk about Derek that way and I want you to leave, Truman. Right now." Casey said firmly.
"Yeah out." Derek smirked.
"Shut it, Venturi. You know she's just settling for you because you brainwashed her into thinking she was a part of some sort of twisted Brady Bunch. You're taking advantage of her! She thinks she's fifteen! You're being kind of sick." Truman said cruelly.
"You know what? I'm done with all your prissy boy bullshit. You're controlling and possessive towards Casey and just can't take that she finally realized it. So stop being so freaking immature and get out of Casey's apartment." Derek said.
"You wanna make me?" Truman said in a typical boy way.
"With pleasure." Derek growled back.
"No, stop it!" Casey said, jumping between them. "Truman, just get your stuff and go. I don't want to deal with you anymore! And Derek, calm down!"
The two men glared at each other and then Truman left the room.
"I hate that guy!" Derek burst out.
"Me too." Casey pouted.
Truman came back with a small duffel bag filled with his things. "Goodbye Casey. I'll see you around."
"No you won't!" Derek barked.
Truman glared icily at Derek and said to Casey, "For the record, I really am sorry for the way things happened."
Truman left. They could hear the front door shut behind him. Casey sighed with relief. She didn't realize how tense she was the whole time he was there until he left.
Derek draped his arm around her and pulled her close. Casey snuggled into him, inhaling his familiar smell. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "That a guy is such a douchebag."
"Yup. Want to eat the pancakes now?"
Casey had to microwave the pancakes since they were now cold because of Truman's untimely interruption. They were sitting at her kitchen table munching on pancakes and listening to Christmas music on the radio. It was after midnight by now and Casey was feeling kind of tired.
"Hey, Case?" Derek said.
"Yeah?" She said, looking up from her food.
He took a bite of pancakes and said with a mouthful of food, "IfinkIwuvoo."
"Um, what? I have no idea what you're saying." Casey said with a smile.
He swallowed and then said quietly, "I think I love you."
"You – you do?" Casey whispered.
"Yes. I know this relationship won't be easy. Hell, it'll be a challenge every day. But I really do love you. I have since I was fifteen years old." Derek said awkwardly.
"I love you to, Derek." Casey said, tears of joy fogging her vision.
"Aw, come on! Don't cry!" Derek whined.
"Oh shut up." Casey muttered, wiping her eyes.
"Can you make me more pancakes?" Derek asked.
"No, do it yourself. I'm tired."
"Please, Casey?" Derek shot her one look with his puppy dog eyes and she melted.
"Fine. But you're not getting any chocolate chips."
"Nooooo!"
A/N i have no idea where the ending came from but its late and im tired. Sorry its been so long but ive been battling a disease called writers block. Its deadly. Review please and thank you!