I'm a little dead to the world right now. But I thought I'd do my best to get you a new chapter, cause I feel guilty about the sort of cliffhanger. Not that I'm likely to resolve much. But I'm beat, so if you don't like this chapter it's because of that. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I actually had more for this chapter, then I realized the chronology was messed up. Le sigh. So I had to change it. Oh well. On the plus side, my dad got his laptop back, so it should be easier to write when the urge strikes me. And my brain is slowly but surely rejuvinating.
Catdogg: Thanks. I'm still working on grasping Emily's character, so it was a little difficult. Glad you liked it.
funnechick: What can I say? I'm a slow mover, but I wanted things to happen, lol. It's hard to tell with Derek, cause he rarely shows what he thinks. I'm trying to keep that in character, and add a little suspense as well. I figured Casey had enough drama with the Emily thing. I feel bad cause I keep writing more, lol.
Oasis Blackmore: Finals. Ugh. You can blame them for both the lack of updates this week and the quality of this chapter (which may actually not be as bad as I imagine, but whatever). Who knew Creative Writing final could be so difficult? You can't force creativity into a time limit. Anyway, I love Emily, and I kind of feel sorry for her (except when the writers make it seem like she'll end up with Derek). I'm glad you liked that reaction. Marti, Marti. I'm really not sure where I'm going with that, lol. But then, I'm like that with everything. I have vague ideas, nothing more. I got a little in this chapter, but I don't know how much or how dramatic (emotion never seems to come through when I proofread my own stuff). The kiss. I wanted it to seem abrupt. Hopefully not too abrupt, but I think that the only way Casey would do that is if she didn't have time to think about it. Glad you liked the chapter.
RAWR-IKICKBUTT: I don't have a great grasp on Emily's character, so I did the best I could. I don't think she would blindly accept it, but I don't know.
Ghostwriter: Who me? Well . . .lol. I didn't actually fall asleep, but I was seriously typing with my eyes closed leaning back against the chair. What can I say? I'm sleep deprived. Glad you liked it.
nimacu: Wow. High praise. Thanks. Always good to hear.
soulmatesDC: Yeah, I'm not quite an expert on Emily. I figured she would get mad, but prolonging the drama would probably mess me up. So I tried to solve it quickly. And who knows, something may have happened that Casey doesn't know about to make Emily forgive her. George and Nora may be annoying, but any parent would probably not be too accepting of something like that. I made the kiss abrupt cause I knew Casey would never do it otherwise. And I don't know about 52 chapters (it may end up that way, but I was really only planning on 10ish more. Then again, I only wanted 20ish total, so . . .it has a mind of its own). Always glad to have in depth opinions. And good luck on finals (even though you're probably finished by now).
TragicMiko: Wow, random sounding compliment, lol. Thanks.
jannikajade: Thanks. I actually have a oneshot planned involving Paul, I just don't know if it'll ever happen. I'm not too involved with his personality, so I don't know if it would be in character. Btw, the Paul story of yours is cool so far (I haven't had a chance to review, sorry).
Lynner-15: Thanks. Blame finals.
zannessa101: Thanks. Updating as best as I can.
lleidane: Wow, best you've read? Thanks. That gives me all sorts of warm fuzzies (and inspires me to write more, if only I find the time). Lol.
jaydenmercy: Disclaimers are stupid. Can't we just stick one at the top of the site? Or maybe on author pages or something. Ugh. Glad you like the story. Casey is a little uninhibited cause of all the drama, and if she took the time to think about it she would never do it. That's why it may have been a little abrupt. The 'Casey's like his mom' thing probably won't be too drawn out, but hopefully it can be something. I don't know though. George doesn't really think Casey is perverse; he's just reacting to the whole thing a little dramatically. George is usually the cool one, but when he freaks he really freaks. Plus most parents would probably be weirded out by that. They recently had an episode on Casey's dad (in my hopeful mind, it had a good Dasey scene or two), so I won't really get into that. Plus, I may be getting over my head as it is, lol. Thanks for the thoughts.
CHL-crackhead: Thanks. Boo finals. If I'm lucky, I can update over break. I may be kinda busy, but if I can sleep in I'll just stay up til 6am (I seriously did that once writing a story, lol).
noryndor: Thanks. I'm getting the chapters as fast as I can.
xX.Padfoot.Xx: Yeah, I was going for something shocking. It's kind of sad that no one expected a kiss 24 chapters in, but oh well. I'm trying to get things going at least a little faster, but I honestly have no idea. Thanks for reviewing the story!
Disclaimer: If I owned this show I could hire a masseuse and then I'd be happy. You would too, cause I could actually write then.
Casey awoke after a bad night's sleep to the same questions that plagued her dreams. What was she going to do? Distractedly, she showered and changed, heading downstairs for breakfast. Halfway down, she stopped, catching sight of Derek in the living room with a stab of apprehension. I cannot go down there, she thought frantically. Turning, she made it up three stairs before Derek's voice stopped her.
"Casey."
She glanced back from the corner of her eye; Derek leaned against the back of the couch, his usual smug self, but with a doubtful look in his eyes, as if he was torn between continuing and walking away. She almost responded, but the thought of actually talking about what she had done caused her nerves to ache; she continued up the stairs without a word. Looking calmly into the mirror in her room, Casey took deep, steadying breaths, steeling herself. Just walk down there and pretend nothing happened, she advised. It will all go away. Descending the stairs once more, she entered the kitchen to find Derek eating cereal and the middle children discussing some papers organized neatly on their side of the table. Derek didn't glance up as she made herself something to eat and sat down, eating his food and steadily ignoring her. Despite the fact that she had recently done the same to him, Casey felt petulantly upset as she began to eat. Derek watched her speculatively from the corner of his eye, barely noticeable to any save Casey, who disconcertedly continued her breakfast, pretending as if she hadn't seen it. Lizzie and Edwin were watching Casey—who ignored everyone nervously—and Derek—who behaved fairly normally save the lack of witty insults—speculatively, every so often making short gestures to each other.
Lizzie surreptitiously pointed to the teenagers and shrugged, to which Edwin replied, "I don't know," in a half-whisper and returned the gesture.
Casey ignored them, wondering anxiously if they somehow knew. Don't be silly, a voice told her. They weren't even home.
Then what have they noticed? she argued back. She found she couldn't answer the question, no matter how many times she analyzed it. Not knowing what they knew was almost worse than them knowing. Now I'm thinking in gibberish, she chastised, irritated.
"I'm going to Emily's," she announced, rinsing out her dish and quickly grabbing her coat.
"But, Casey . . ." Lizzie called out; she didn't finish the sentence, aware that her sister was no longer listening. Casey made her way quickly through the frozen grass, hoping Emily was free and could provide sufficient advice, or at least a distraction.
Dimi opened the door, skipping away and calling for his sister obnoxiously when he saw Casey. "Hey, Casey," Emily greeted, looking slightly confused. "What's up?"
"Are you free?" Casey questioned. "I was hoping we could hang out."
Emily quickly recovered herself, pulling wide the door. "Sure, Case," she agreed, allowing her friend into the house. "So," she began as they reached her room, "What's up?" Casey opened her mouth, and Emily cut her off. "Don't try to deny it. You're acting weird and the only time you stop by without calling first is when there's a problem. So, spill."
"Okay," Casey admitted reluctantly. "So there is a problem."
"Does it have to do with Derek?" Emily asked knowingly, noting the tone in her friend's voice. It was apparent Emily wished she could ignore the Derek issue, but her sense of friendship drew her to listen and give advice.
"Yes," Casey said guiltily.
Emily watched her friend's face, concerned. "Casey," she admonished suspiciously. "What happened?"
"Well . . ." Casey began, but found herself unable to finish.
"What did you do?" Emily asked, guessing the nature of the problem. Casey's guilty look intensified, and she seated herself on Emily's bed, avoiding Emily's eyes. Emily contemplated Casey's actions momentarily before squinting her eyes, disbelieving. "You didn't." It was a statement, not a question, and Casey glanced up, surprised at Emily's observational skills. "You kissed him?" Emily continued incredulously. Casey nodded, cringing. "Wow," Emily said, stunned. "You . . . wow," she repeated, the majority of her vocabulary suddenly disappearing. She sat heavily in a chair, before leaning up and wondering incredulously, "How did it happen?" Her discomfort had momentarily disappeared.
Casey wanted anything but to retell the story, but she needed support and organization for her thoughts. "I don't know," she said moaned. "One minute I was feeling sorry for him, and the next I was kissing him."
"What did he do?" Emily asked, awaiting Casey's response with eager intrigue.
"He just . . ." Casey wondered how to word it, finally giving up and settling on, "freaked out and left."
"That's bad for your self-confidence," Emily pointed out sympathetically.
"Emily," Casey admonished with growing panic. "I don't know what to do! I kissed my stepbrother," she groaned, almost disbelievingly. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Sorry, Case," Emily apologized. "I can't help you there."
Casey sighed heavily, a slight whine apparent in her tone. "I know. I guess I just needed support. So," she asked, attempting to perk up as she shifted subjects, "Any new developments in your love life?" Casey couldn't believe she just implied Derek was her love life, but her friend didn't seem to notice. Emily warmed to the new subject much more quickly, recounting minor events with a shy mildness that astounded Casey. Emily, not wanting to gossip? But all she could decide in her distracted mind was that Emily had real feelings for Trevor and didn't want to jepordize that, whatever she said about still liking Derek.
Casey's mother found her as soon as she returned home. "Casey," she called, walking in from the laundry room, folding a shirt. Casey looked up and approached her mother. Sensing her daughter's attention, Nora continued, "Are you free this afternoon? Lizzie's going out with Jordan again and I was wondering if you could supervise. You know the mall these days," she explained.
It wasn't until her mother mentioned the evening that she remembered the last evening, before the kiss. "Actually, Mom, I'm going with Derek to see Marti," she explained, unwilling to abandon the trip because she had messed up and kissed her stepbrother.
"Oh," her mother responded, surprised. "Did he invite you?" She looked confused, knowing how unlikely it was for her stepson to invite Casey anywhere, especially if it shortened his time with his little sister.
"Uh, yeah. Sort of."
"Well," her mother said, still surprised. "That's nice. It will be good for you to see Marti again," she added, obviously missing the girl herself. Casey gave her mom a comforting smile before Nora returned to the laundry. He hadn't uninvited her, she reasoned, so the offer must be standing. And hopefully the trip would restore some sense of normalcy between them.
Derek looked slightly surprised when she joined him by the door some hours later, but shook it off and walked outside, leaving her to follow him to Miss Ackart's car. The ride passed in silence, Miss Ackart glancing curiously in the rearview mirror every so often; but as they stood on the porch while Miss Ackart rang the bell, Derek and Casey reached an unspoken agreement: whatever oddity was passing between them would not affect the visit with Marti.
"Smerek!" Marti announced gleefully as she saw the group enter, shifting to run to her brother before Abby broke in, "Marti, manners." The little girl looked at the floor in melancholy annoyance before walking slowly to her brother.
With a glare for his mother, Derek scooped Marti up, twirling her until she giggled in delight. "You don't need manners around me, Smarti," he admonished, allowing her to kiss him messily before she slid to the floor. "Casey!" Marti greeted, pleased, as she reached up to grab the older girl's hand. "I told Smerek you should visit." Despite the innocence of the statement and her happiness at seeing Marti, Casey felt vaguely disappointed. I guess it was too much to hope that he asked me on his own. She looked questioningly at Derek, who shrugged before awkwardness caught up with them. Casey looked suddenly to the floor and Derek redirected his attention to his sister. "So how's my Smarti today?" he questioned.
"Fine," she answered less-than-enthusiastically.
"Well, let's make your day better," he conspired, grabbing her other hand and tugging her into the other room, Casey trailing awkwardly.
"Hello, Derek," Abby greeted, forcing warmth into her tone at the sight of Miss Ackart. He gave a curt nod of acknowledgement, never slowing his path. "Casey," Abby tried instead. "How lovely to see you, dear. How are you faring?" She smile pleasantly, much more convincingly than she had with her son.
"Fine," Casey mimicked her stepsister's response, attempting politeness as she was pulled into the other room only half against her will.
"Wonderful," Abby responded, smoothing her skirt and usher Miss Ackart after the children. The woman accepted with a passing smile for Abby, who nodded, pleased.
As the visit passed, Casey noted that Marti seemed . . . reserved. The little girl recognized the safety of the social worker's presence, but remained slightly less exuberant than usual. Casey observed Derek, careful to avoid notice, and found he had come to the same conclusion. She watched with a mixture of longing and pity as he attempted to draw his sister into fun activities, smiling genuinely whenever she accepted. Casey even allowed herself to participate in a few silly games, glad for the opportunity to play with her stepsister. But whenever Abby interjected a helpful sounding comment about keeping the house clean, or not messing up Marti's dress, Casey couldn't help but look for similarities in her own character. I get annoyed with Marti for spilling things on her clothes, Casey worried as they stopped for lunch and Abby admonished her daughter for dropping part of the salad, which both Venturi children ate dutifully. Casey noted the eldest growing quiet, wondering at Abby's challanging stare for Derek if she herself forced her habits upon others. I do, she thought morosely, remembering countless instances of the fact. Finally, Casey couldn't take the analyzation and resolved not to think of it. If I'm distracted I'll miss time with Marti, she decided sensibly.
"Casey, will you play dolls with me?" Marti implored as Abby quickly set the dishes in the dishwasher before hurrying back. "They're breakable and I can't play by myself," she added.
"Sure, Marti," Casey agreed, giving the girl a small smile.
"I'll just run and get them," Abby announced, smiling gracefully at Casey. Casey felt as if she had done something noteworthy in Abby's mind, though she couldn't figure out what. The polished woman returned shortly later, carrying an ornate wooden box and handing it to Casey. The inside revealed several china dolls, all looking quite expensive, and a few tiny changes of clothes. Miss Ackart smiled, content with the situation, and settled onto a nearby Victorian chair. None but Marti noticed Derek and Abby leave the room, arranging themselves in the barely visible kitchen.
Casey and Marti had only been playing a few minutes when a phone sounded and Miss Ackart reached into her purse. "Exuse me," she said apologetically, assuring herself of Marti's condition before sliding into the hallway with her phone. Casey looked up, noting the missing people. She turned to Marti, confused, before low, angry whispers reached her ears. She couldn't make out the words, so she scooted closer to the doorway, glancing briefly at Marti, who nodded understandingly but didn't join her.
". . . what she needs is discipline," Abby said decisively. "Elsewise she'll just run wild and corrupt like the rest of you." Casey couldn't tell who Abby meant by 'the rest of you,' but she leaned in slightly to hear Derek's reply.
"She needs people who love her," he hissed. "People who understand her."
"What's to understand?" Abby scoffed. "She's just a child." Casey knew Derek would not appreciate the statement, and she awaited his response.
"She may be a child," he agreed angrily, "But she has a better grasp of the world than you ever will." Casey raised her eyebrows at the insult, hearing an offended scoff.
Miss Ackart strode back into the room, snapping her phone shut and reseating herself before noticing that Casey hovered by the opposite doorway. She raised an eyebrow, and Casey looked down, then lifted the doll still clutched in her hand. "Got it, Marti," she announced, moving back towards her stepsister. Marti didn't call her bluff, and Miss Ackart accepted the excuse, though doubtfully. Casey and Marti continued speaking lowly as they played, drowing out the conversation in the kitchen until Derek and Abby reappeared a few minutes later.
"I just wanted a chat with my son," Abby explained, smiling, at Miss Ackart's unspoken question when they entered the room. The woman nodded in understanding, and Marti abandoned her toys in light of her brother.
"Smerek, I want to play a game with you and Casey," she announced. Casey glanced briefly at Derek before refocusing on Marti. Derek agreed after a few half-hearted jokes about leaving Casey out. Smiling, Marti pulled them upstairs, announcing, "We can play a game in my room." The two older women stood and followed the trio upstairs.
Casey noted that the top level of the house mirrored the bottom in elegance. Marti's room was fairly large, with cream carpet and pink ruffled curtains. A pink curtain even hung around the girl's bed, which Derek scoffed at when he saw it; Marti was scared of the dark, and the curtain would only make it worse. Abby followed them, looking expectant, and Casey complimented, "What a nice room," rather unconvincingly, hoping to keep Abby mildly happy so she would leave her children alone. Abby smiled graciously and remained hovering by the door, much to Casey's relief.
"Want to play with these?" Marti asked, motioning the immaculate row of stuffed animals sitting along shelves in the wall.
Casey opened her mouth to agree, but Derek glanced challangingly at his mother before suggesting, "Why don't we make a blanket fort?" Marti agreed excitedly, quickly moving to the trunk by her bed to remove extra blankets. Abby looked highly disapproving, but refrained from statement at the slight smile on Miss Ackart's face. Casey joined the siblings with an odd smile, half-pleased, half-worried. It was apparent neither of the other two worried too much about displeasing their mother, but Casey couldn't help but wonder at the concequences. Marti noted her reluctance, skipping over and pulling her to where Derek was stringing a blanket between the bedposts and the dresser. With a resassuring smile for her stepsister, Casey joined in the effort.
Abby allowed the two teenagers to stay longer than she had allowed the family, but by dinnertime it was apparent she had become antsy. "Miss Ackart, I feel absolutely terrible about sending everyone home, but Marti and I have plans for the evening. I'm taking her out for dinner," she explained at the slightly questioning look from the other woman.
"Of course," Miss Ackart replied. "Derek, Casey," she said, raising her voice to gain their attention. "We need to leave."
Instantly, Marti grabbed each of their hands desperately. "But I don't want them to leave," she whined.
"Marti," Miss Ackart admonished lightly. "I know you miss your brother and Casey, but your mother has something exciting planned. Derek and Casey can come back another day." Marti reluctantly turned to Casey, dropping Derek's hand to hug her stepsister. "Please come back soon," Marti begged, and Casey felt melancholy well up as she returned the hug.
"I will," she promised. Marti nodded and moved to her brother jumping and clinging to him, her feet dangling two feet off the ground. He picked her up and pulled her the rest of the way to his chest, hugging her tightly.
"I love you, Smarti," he said softly, causing Casey's sadness to increase.
"I love you, too, Smerek," his sister returned, burying her face in his neck. After a moment she lifted her head, touching his cheek comfortingly before he let her down. Miss Ackart gestured for the teenagers to leave, and they obliged with final goodbyes. Marti, ignoring her mother's admonishing stare, plopped carelessly to the ground, waving goodbye to the people she loved.
Silence descended on Casey and Derek once more as they walked outside and seated themselves in the car. Miss Ackart looked comfortingly at them, but refrained from speaking as she started the engine. In the absence of Marti, Casey could feel the tension between her and Derek reemerge. Watching the house shrink behind her, she broke the barrier of awkward silence.
"Derek," she asked imploringly. "Am I really like her?" She appeared anxious, looking seriously at her stepbrother.
He looked up, startled that she had spoken and slightly guilty at what she said, though he hid it well. "Well, yeah. You're kind of like my mom," he admitted, and she felt fear stab her heart. "But you're kind of like you're mom, too," he continued. "And I like her." Casey looked up with a furrowed brow. "Just cause you have a few similarities doesn't mean you're her, Case," he reminded slightly ironically, and she imagined slight affection in the nickname. His tone was already more comforting than she could have imagined, though by no means caring by normal standards. Sensing her fears sated, he shook off the serious tone with a sarcastic joke, "You have plenty of problems on your own, anyway." She rewarded him with a slightly exasperated eye roll and they returned to ignoring each other. Still, Casey felt better. Hearing Emily say it was one thing, but for some reason, she felt so much better when Derek told her. Glancing at him, she hoped the slight resolve in tension would last; but she could already feel it begin to arise again. Casey sighed. For some reason, life never went the way she wanted.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWW
So, there you are. I had fun with the Marti part, despite my sleep deprivation. Tell me what ya'll think.