A/N: quite a long chapter for this story. Not for me, but I've been trying to keep this story concise and quick, but too much needs to happen, too quickly.
Just so some people know, I haven't abandoned my other story, 'Venturi vs McDonald'. I have the next chapter written up, but am reluctant to post it because it's a piece of garbage. So I'm focusing on this one until my block goes away.
I do not own a thing.
Players:
Casey - surprisingly enthusiastic
Derek - very enthusiastic
James - UNenthusiastic
QUEENS: CASEY'S DORM - 6 O'CLOCK
Enter Derek, looking FAB, walking down Casey's hallway. He stops in front of her door and pauses.
He's spent an embarrassing amount of time getting ready for this (innocent) outing, and when he's decided he looks just put together enough (because he doesn't want Casey to think he actually has to try to look this hot), he hops into the Prince and makes his way to Casey's dorm (inconveniently across campus). When he gets there and finds her floor, he hears voices raising on the other side of her door (and he grits his teeth because James is in there, arguing with Casey).
It's not like Derek's surprised (because he really isn't). James was probably one of those guys who always checks up on Casey and has to know everything she is doing. (Derek also wouldn't be surprised if the guy periodically screened her friends).
And Derek gets an absolute kick out of the coming interaction when he knocks on the door of Casey's dorm, and she opens the door quickly (and passionately), and Derek has to hold his tongue, because all he wants to do is tell her how amazing she looks in that tight-fitting black dress and silver pumps (which would be: sexy, by the way. Oh, and mind-blowingly erotic). There wasn't quite as much leg as Derek had been hoping for, but she hasn't shied away from showing off her... other curves.
It's a lot of effort, but he pushes his tongue to the side and smirks at her appearance.
"That's who you're going out with?" James sounds very angry (and Derek is feeling smug).
Waving at him (and sadly tearing his eyes away from Casey), Derek breaks out a friendly grin and says, "Hey! I was hoping I'd see you tonight."
James' arms cross (which Derek is certain that he practices the action to try and make his biceps look bigger and more threatening than they are). "I bet you did."
Derek steps into the dorm (much to Casey's dismay), and greets Prince Charming more formally. "Yeah. I wanted to thank you for being such a wonderful and supportive boyfriend to dear Casey here. You know, most guys wouldn't like it if their girlfriends went out with me, but not you. You just step aside and let Casey make her own decisions. Because Casey doesn't like it when people tell her what she can and can't do, and you're just the guy who would know that better than anyone else, aren't you?" He keeps up eye contact the entire time he's speaking, knowing that there is no way he can object (because - like always - Derek has spun the situation to benefit no one else but himself).
But James isn't looking appreciative (Look Out!) and he's scowling at Derek.
And (just to get on his nerves), Derek slings his arm around Casey's torso and pulls her into him, her side touching his, and hand draped (pleasantly) around her waist. "Ready to go, Case?" He makes sure to say it playfully, but also with a seductive undertone. (Because it's just too hard not to, and James is withering over there).
Casey jabs him in the stomach with her elbow (which he totally did NOT deserve), and grabs her jacket off of her bed, which Derek quickly examines to see which side he will be sleeping on when his plan finally pans out. (His hopeful answer is neither, because he'd rather just be on top). "Yeah."
"Great." He claps his hands, and watches James' reaction when he snatches Casey's jacket and holds it up so she can slip into it more easily. (Desperate times call for desperate measures, and chivalry is along those lines).
Can a scowl turn into a snarl? Because James is pretty near barking and snapping. (How come this is so much fun?)
"I'll be back later," Casey says to him, and Derek adds, "Don't wait up."
"Oh, I'll wait up," James responds, but Derek shrugs.
"It's not necessary," Casey explains, and then walks over to James (and Derek has to avert his eyes quickly when she rolls onto her tip toes to kiss him, and fire threatens to shoot out of his ears).
"Casey, please don't go out with him," James says, like he's actually concerned about her safety or something.
(I'll order one big, fat eye roll, please. And a side of fries to go with it. Thanks).
"I'll see you later," she responds. (Have I mentioned lately how much Derek loves her?) "Come on," she says, grabs Derek's arm, and pulls him out of her dorm and closes the door behind them.
Yeah, the plan is going swimmingly. (So far, at least).
A SUPER-DUPER FANCY RESTAURANT - 6:30
"Where is she?"
"Who?"
"The girl you like."
(Oh yeah.) "Um, I don't know."
Casey's eyes narrow. "What do you mean? I thought the whole reason we're doing this is so she can see you with an attractive girl and get jealous."
(Half right). "Don't flatter yourself."
"Derek." She's annoyed.
"Relax. I just don't see her yet." (Translation: I'm a phony, and you're the only girl for me.)
"Point her out when she gets here."
(Yeah, that's not likely.) "Will do."
The mait're d guides them to a secluded corner booth (in which Derek can't be more pleased about), but Casey objects quickly and asks for a table completely in the open, smack dab in the middle of the restaurant.
"Casey, what are you doing?" He whispers, irritated that he's now pulling out her chair and grumbling at how public this spot is. (Because how is he supposed to make a pass at her when the entire restaurant is staring at them?)
She looks at him like its obvious. "She'll never see us if we're in a private booth. We have to stay in the open so she'll notice."
(This was such a dumb plan). "Fine." (Be like that.)
And it's just about the longest night in his entire life, because he's sitting across from Casey, with her foot brushing against his whenever she repositions, and she looks amazing, and smells amazing, but she's not paying him any attention, because whenever another human being in the restaurant moves, Casey jumps and leans forward (which gives him a great view down her dress, by the way), and asks, "Is that her?"
To which his reply is constantly: "No. Now just forget about it and act natural." (Because he's starting to feel like he's in a B-movie Spy flick).
They make it through the entire first course, and Derek is pretty ticked that Casey hasn't even mentioned how fancy the place is, or that he's paying a whole lot more than a week's pay on the one meal. (He's worked it out: It was costing him eight shifts of his part-time job at a ski shop down the road).
"So tell me about James," Derek starts, trying to distract Casey from staring at the entrance the entire night.
It definitely works, because she swings her head back around and stares at him. "Why?"
He rolls his eyes. "I don't know, because I'm sick of the back of your head. Why do you like him, anyway, other than having an IQ of 134?" (He listens to her. And retains every single thing she's ever said to him).
"I... I don't know. I just do."
"For a guy so perfect, you don't seem like you do."
"What?" (She's confused). "Of course I do. What makes you think I don't?"
"Well, for starters, you haven't mentioned him once tonight. When she's really in love, the Casey I know usually can't shut up about the sorry loser." (Usually).
"I'm not like that."
(She's asking for it). "Do I have to remind you about you're stupid 'month-a-versary' thing? Never taking off Max's jacket? Obsessing over Truman's ass-hole rating game?" Yes, he decides he does need to, and starts mocking her. (His voice is three octaves higher than his vocal chords tend to let him reach, and it hurts putting so much effort into an impersonation, but it's worth the smack Casey throws across his head in anger).
"I do NOT do that."
"Do you have your cellphone on you? Because I'm pretty sure the family would be on my side."
She slumps back (in realization that Derek is actually right). "I... I act like that?"
"Every time. Except for now."
Her troubled expression is disconcerting for Derek.
"Maybe I've changed since we became strangers."
(Unlikely). "Maybe."
"I don't know."
"Okay, then how did you meet?" (Commence a long-winded story about how they crossed eyes across a crowded street, and the wind was blowing in her hair, and they were drawn together like two magnets caught in each others polar fields)...
"He sat beside me in Business Marketing."
He waits (and waits) for the story to continue. "And...?"
"And what? We started talking, and now we're together."
Should this news be alarming or comforting to Derek? Was his job going to be easier than expected? (Or did she finally meet someone she could be levelheaded over?)
"That's it?"
"What else do you want? We went on our first date the first week of classes, and that's it." She puts her hands flat on the table. "What about you? How did you meet the mystery girl that hasn't shown up yet?"
Derek sighs (because he has to try and concoct a girl while Casey is staring him down). "We met... Over a misunderstanding."
At least that intrigues her. "Go on."
"She thought I was someone who I'm not."
"Like a decent human being?"
"Ha ha." (Please, stop. I can't contain the laughter...) "Actually, she mistook me as a friend of mine."
"Hmm."
"Hmm?"
"Kind of like us." (Try: exactly like us).
"I guess so."
"And how did it go?"
"Well, we're not together yet. As you can see." (Boy could she ever?)
"What's she like?"
"Aren't you just full of questions." (And its getting annoying...)
Casey shrugs. "You started it."
"Yeah, but I don't like being the one answering them."
"Suck it up."
(Yeah, he wants to). "What was the question, again?"
"What is she like?" Casey enunciates, like he's four.
What is he supposed to say: Look in the mirror? "She's... Blonde." (Lies, but keeping it believable here). "And she plays volleyball." Okay...? Why did he say that? (He's panicking, and it's a sport that he likes watching girls play, for obvious reasons).
"That's all? She's the second most common hair colour, and she plays a sport?"
He nods in defence. "Mhmm. And she has two brothers." (Where is this random shit coming from? Well, the answer would be his ass, but usually the stuff he pulls out of there is not so miscellaneous).
"Okay...? But that still doesn't explain what she's like."
(She's gorgeous, and her smile makes my heart melt, and the way she says my name makes me want to lock the door to whatever room we're in and do something so scandalous that the cops will probably have to arrest me.) "She's amazing."
"What's her name?"
"C-" (Whoa, that was a close one). "Wait. Shut up. She's here," he says quickly, and without thinking, to change the subject quickly before he accidentally lets it slide.
At the news, Casey perks up, and starts to turn around to get a better view, but Derek quickly grabs her hand and stops her. "No, Casey, don't look. Don't make it obvious we were waiting for her. Just act normal and let her notice us casually." (No one has even entered the restaurant, but he needs something to happen this evening, and it sure as hell won't happen when he's making up random stuff about an imaginary girl to throw Casey off the trail.
"But I want to see what she looks like."
"No, Casey! Please!" He grips her hand tighter and looks at her, straight in the eyes.
She pauses for a moment, and she's wearing the same stupid grin that makes Derek want to forget that there's a reason he has tried to distance himself from her. (Because he wants to kiss her so badly, but knows it'll only abruptly put an end to their date and Casey will never talk to him again).
"Okay," Casey gives in, and relaxes in her chair. "Tell me if she notices us, then."
He nods, and pretends to be interested in keeping tabs on someone who doesn't even exist.
Their next course comes, and Derek waits until he's finished before he says, "okay, I think she just looked over."
"Is she with her boyfriend?"
"Yeah."
"Does she look like she cares about us?"
He smirks. "I don't think so. Not yet, at least." He cocks an eyebrow upward, and reaches out for her hand again, and rubs his thumb against her fingers. "We gotta make it look like we're having a lot of fun."
Casey nods, like she's just remembered, and playfully tosses her hair over her shoulder, and laughs loudly and falsely (which sends Derek's heart straight into his throat).
"Whoa, tone it down," he says through a gritted smile. "It's not the Colosseum."
"That doesn't even make any sense," Casey snaps, still smiling, and twirling her hair like it's the funniest thing she can think of doing.
He sighs. "I don't care. Just don't make the entire restaurant gawk at us like we're some kind of exhibit."
"We kind of are."
"Shut up, she's looking!" Finally, he's having fun tonight (because messing with Casey is a blast).
"Shut up? Shouldn't we be talking and having fun?"
He shrugs, and stares into her eyes, seductively. (But Casey thinks its all an act, so that's a downside). "She knows that when I'm usually out with a girl, we don't do a lot of talking."
Casey's eyes roll, and she grimaces, and grabs the glass of wine sitting in front of her. "Of course you don't."
He smirks, and follows suit, taking a sip of wine, too.
Somehow, out of pure luck, he manages to keep Casey from turning around for the rest of the meal, and convinces her that they have to wait for the imaginary girl and her boyfriend to leave before they can. It's dumb, but it works, and Casey is looking rather pleased with herself when he says, "I think she was bothered by us together."
He asks for the bill (which apparently is bad manner in the establishment), and nearly drops his jaw at the price (because, ouch, he's going to have to dip into his savings and work extra shifts to pay for the rest of Casey's meals for the year).
And when they're finally out of the restaurant, Casey is smiling and laughing, and walking down the street right beside him (and he's slipping again). And when they get to the Prince, Casey says, "What movie are we going to see?"
(She's actually excited).
"Um," he fingers his wallet. It's getting pretty weightless. "Let's skip the movie."
Her eyebrows furrow. "Don't you want her to see us having fun at the theatre, too?" (Is she really disappointed, or is she just acting that way?)
He shrugs. "I think we did a good job at the restaurant."
Casey sighs. "Well, I can't go home now."
"Why not?"
"Because it's barely even eight."
He lifts an eyebrow at her. "Since when do you care about staying out late?"
She breathes heavily and gets into the Prince without answering. So he asks again, and she shrugs, pulling on her seat belt. "James is probably still at my place."
And he clenches his jaw, because the way she says it makes him worried, like she doesn't want to be alone with the guy. (Cue: overprotective interrogation period). "Is everything okay between you guys?"
She nods. "Yeah."
He doesn't buy it (obviously), because her smile is nowhere to be seen. "You're lying."
And she breathes. Deeply. (And Derek is about ready to go back to her place and beat the living daylight out of James).
"We just had a fight before you picked me up tonight. That's all."
"What about?"
And she has the gall to laugh. "About you."
He swallows (and swallows again, but that lump in his throat is pretty big). "Oh."
She smirks and lifts an eyebrow at him. "He thinks you have a thing for me."
And he acts as best as he can to be amused (but it hurts). "God, Seriously? That would be the day."
She giggles (and he wants to punch something). "I know, right?"
"Right." (Wrong).
"Like that would ever happen."
"Ever." (It's already happening).
"I mean, we hate each other, don't we?" (Uncertainty is laced in her words, but she also sounds definitive).
"We do." (That's why they're on a date at the moment).
"And our parents are married."
"They sure are."
"And we share a brother, so it would just be weird." (Has she thought about this as much as he has?)
"So weird."
"And it would just be wrong."
"So wrong."
(How come this is quickly turning from denial into excuses?)
"So it's impossible."
"Impossible."
They make eye contact, and he notices that her breathing is shallow, and she bites her lip awkwardly. She looks away first, and plays with the handle of her purse. (She's cute when she feels uncomfortable).
Apparently Derek can hardly hide his feelings anymore, and he leans closer to her. "Casey," he whispers, but she shakes her head.
"No. Derek. Don't do this."
He closes his eyes. "Why not?"
She exaggeratedly repositions in her seat and flips her hair, quickly changing the subject. "Come on. Take me somewhere. Somewhere fun," she demands. "And loud." (Because they've passed a line a few moments ago, and she's scared out of her mind to continue having this conversation).
Sighing, he starts the car. "Are you up to go clubbing?"
She shrugs. "I've never been."
He laughs. "Well, then. I've a got a few things to teach you."
"Okay."
"And you're paying."
"De-rek."
Commence riding off into the sunset - where they both completely avoid what has obviously just happened between them, and pretend like everything is completely A-OK. (Which it is not, but hey. What are they supposed to do?)
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