A Snap Shot
Disclaimer: I don't own a damn thing!
AN: I'm not sure if you follow me on A03 but you should. I post their first/more often.
A Snap Shot:
The Broken Hearts Club pt.2
Casey was drunk. She went straight past tipsy and directly into totally smashed and only vaguely felt the shift in her foggy mindset. It wasn't something she'd normally do, but Derek was there, she knew she was safe. She felt his eyes on her the entire time she danced with Emily. She reveled in his attention, throwing her hands up and rolling hips a little extra. She was in her element. She forgot all about her textbooks and her study guides. She felt lighter as the thin layer of sweat started to coat her skin and bodies bumped into them.
She tried her best to ignore everyone else and to maintain control of her limbs and heart. But her head was fuzzy; thoughts of Derek bouncing around each corner. It didn't help when her eyes landed on his across the room and found him looking back at her. She felt raw and naked under that stare. Did he have to look at her like that? Like she was pure light at the end of a dark tunnel? She knew it was probably just the Vodka... or was it Tequila? Whatever it was, it allowed her to imagine things. But for a little while, for the night, she'd let herself believe.
Later, when they danced together, she felt his arm around her waist, so strong and sturdy. He wouldn't let her fall, her protector, her knight in scuffed up hockey gear. Time didn't exist as she danced. Only the music and him, tucked behind her, a hand on her hip as he tried his best to keep up.
At some point Derek's hand was in hers, ushering her out of Sam's house. The cool night air felt good on her overheated skin, she practically moaned, bathing herself in the moonlight.
But then she realized that Derek was staring at her, waiting for her to walk ... She knew they were all too drunk to drive, but she wasn't sure her floaty limbs could manage the trek home. She pouted and gave him what she hoped was the most convincing set of eyes.
Derek just rolled his eyes. He must have known it was coming. "Come on," he told her, turning his back, and kneeling so she could climb onto his back. "Just don't puke," he reminded her.
Casey felt giddy, up high on his back, arms around his neck. She was surrounded by the scent of him, a smell she adored. She loved the feel of his strong arms hooked around her thighs, holding her up. She was on top of the world and didn't want the night to end. She had to remind herself not to duck her head into the crook of his neck. Not to press a kiss on his skin. She couldn't concentrate on anything else in her hazy state.
She wasn't surprised when they ended up at Derek's house. She knew she couldn't go home. She was too drunk, and although Nora didn't mind when she went out with Derek, supported it even, she had a feeling mommy dearest wouldn't be so keen on Derek bringing her home completely smashed. So they ended up at his place. It wouldn't be the first time or the last.
He put her back on her feet when they arrived, but he kept an arm wrapped around her. She was a little too wobbly to make it up the stairs in one piece on her own. She was clumsy enough without alcohol. Derek didn't trust her balance on a good day, she knew that. She tried her best to suppress the giggle making its way up her body as she clung to him, taking one step at a time, the safety of his bedroom feeling like a mile away. Casey felt a grumble vibrate out of Derek's chest, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
"Come on, Case," he murmured, sitting her down on his bed when they finally made it inside.
Casey stretched like a cat, practically tumbling onto her side of his bed. The side she always curled up into. She wasn't sure when it had become her side, but she knew it well. She was delighted to find some cherry chapstick sitting on the bedside table. She chuckled to herself applying some to her dry lips, remembering having left it there for nights like those.
Rubbing her lips together her eyes flicked up to her surroundings; to Derek's room. She watched him closely, as he moved around his room, kicking piles of dirty clothes into corners. (She had a habit of tripping over his clothes when she was in there.) He pulled out a clean shirt from his dresser for her. It would be a dress on Casey. His clothes always were. But at least she got to bathe in his scent on her skin. That alone was enough.
"Put this on," he tossed the shirt her way.
Casey decided to slip out of her jeans first. They were tight and constricting. And pantless was always a better way to be. She unzipped, pushing her hips off the bed to wiggle them down her butt. She didn't trust herself to stand, she'd tumble over for sure.
She heard Derek mumble a string of obscenities across the room. "I'll be right back," he added, before bolting out of the room.
She frowned but continued undressing. It took a second but she finally got the skinny jeans off and tossed them into a corner on top of Derek's things. Casey giggled to herself. A mix of their dirty laundry staring back at her. Her shirt came next, that was easy. And then her bra, because no sane woman slept in a bra. Finally down to her undies, she slipped Derek's clean shirt onto her body. It was a soft t-shirt, one of his band tees he loved to wear. She hugged herself, throwing his blanket over her exposed leg. She felt so warm and content wrapped up in it.
She drifted off a bit, heavy lids taking her far far away. But the next thing she knew, Derek was coaxing her awake, and she was opening her eyes to look into his. His hand pushing her hair out of her face so gently, she felt precious under his stare. She wished she could live in that moment forever.
"I need you to take these, Princess," he explained, showing her the pills in his hand.
Caseys eyes found the meds in his hand and found the glass of water on the nightstand. Groggy and drunk she understood. "You're too good to me," she offered, taking the glass of water and meds.
Derek just smiled down at her, like she knew her secret. "Yeah, well … Let's see if you still feel that way tomorrow morning," he offered with a chuckle before getting up to undress.
Casey chugged the water, her thirst suddenly increased. She had seen Derek in various states of undress throughout their years together, but that was all accidental. Watching him undress for the night...pulling his shirt off his body, watching the way his back muscles rippled as he did so... yeah . It made Casey's mind go places. Very nice places...
Her eyes traced the details of his back, and the birthmark on his shoulders. The scar across his rib cage from that fight he got into with Sam when they were 15. She loved every mark on that boy's body. She loved every piece of evidence that proved that he existed, that he was real, that he was a part of her world, not just some fantasy she had made up.
When she saw his hand went to his belt, she forced herself to look away. She didn't trust herself to just stare… It would be wrong. (But god would it feel so right.)
The next morning everything hurt. Ok, maybe not everything. But Casey felt the headache thumping against her temples before she even managed to crack an eye open. Thankfully when she finally did, the room was blissfully dark. Derek's room that is. A slow smile pulled across her mouth. The weight across her middle was Derek's arm slung over her protectively. He was the big spoon. She knew she was biased but they looked good together...
Slowly she rolled over to face him. He was hauntingly handsome. His features were soft and relaxed from sleep. Her hand reached out to his face, her fingertip slowly tracing his jaw and his nose. The shapes of hip soft pink lips. She let her fingers brush back his soft reddish-brown locks from his face. He was beautiful. And asleep like that he looked angelic almost. At that moment it would be so incredibly easy to imagine being his . Being able to just close the space between them. To press her mouth against his gently. She was tempted to, just to know what it felt like. But she wouldn't. She'd never cross that line. She'd never risk losing him. He was too important to her.
"You're staring," he murmured, his arm slipping off of her, but not before giving her hip a little squeeze.
She shouldn't have been surprised he was awake. He liked to scare her any time he got a chance.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, opening his precious golden brown eyes to greet her. His voice low and thick with sleep, the entire thing made thoughts fill her sleepy mind. She had to remind herself that she was a strong independent woman who did not fall for Derek's charm. Except she did. Every day of her life.
"I've had better days," she admitted, her voice a croaking mess.
"You had a good night though," he offered with a knowing smile. His face all soft with sleep and his stupid dazzling smile practically melted her into bed. She wanted to kick and scream at the world for being unfair. But she knew deep down she was the only one who got to see him that way. She was the only girl allowed to stay over. And even if she wasn't, Derek didn't do sleepover. Not like that anyway. So the soft morning together was just for her... ( and Sam and Ralph.)
Casey smiled at him, not being able to resist. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was aware of how much of a mess she must have looked with last night's smudge makeup and her hair a complete mess. "I did. Thank you," she smiled running a hand through her wild locks.
"Welcome," he smiled back softly. "I uh ...tried to take off your makeup. Didn't do the best job," he sighed, his thumb reaching out to clear a smudge under her eye. "But figured it was better than nothing."
Casey wrinkled her nose. She didn't want to look in a mirror but she would have to eventually. But still, the soft act of intimacy of Derek trying to remove her makeup made warmth fill her chest.
"Anyway, we should probably get you home soon," he said before stretching. She was momentarily distracted by the expanse of his naked chest, the sheets slipping down his torso, and the way his muscles contracted as he stretched. She shook her thoughts away till she realized what he had said.
Casey's eyes went wide as the real world came crashing down on her. She popped up, checking her phone on the nightstand, her head spinning. But Derek, ever the angel must have plugged her phone in for her. When her eyes adjusted she spotted the time. It was nearly noon, they had slept in. Her body probably needed the rest. But Casey's date and Derek's game were only in a few hours...
She jumped out of bed with a squeal, finding the inside-out jeans from when she ripped them off the night before. Stupid drunk Casey couldn't have flipped them the right way. She struggled to get them right side and on, jumping into the skinny jeans while she vaguely heard Derek's warm chuckle in the background.
She felt his eyes on her as she finally buttoned her jeans. All the jumping around did nothing good for her insides, she wanted to puke. And Derek's stupid chuckle, the way he relaxed in bed, arms behind his bed looking entertained, wasn't helping ethier. Casey wanted to throw a shoe at him. So she did.
"Not funny! I need to go. I need to shower. And pick out an outfit," she argued, fingers going for the edge of the shirt. Derek's eyes went wide, but thankfully she caught herself before flashing him. "I'm keeping this," she decided, tying up the end of his oversized shirt and making it into a knotted crop top situation. She'd go braless for a little while, free the nipple and all that.
Derek groaned, shoving a pillow in the face to block the view. " Casey!"
She had no idea why he was complaining, so she ignored him finding her shoes. She decided to forget all about her bra and shirt. She'd find it eventually… hopefully ?
"Good luck on your game!" she told him before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
She was halfway downstairs when a possibility dawned on her... Slowly, because her head and her stomach demanded it, she made her way back up the stairs and peeked into his bedroom.
He was stretched out across his bed, starfishing it out. "Forget something?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. Her stomach somersaulted response. Stupid charming Derek.
Casey leaned against the door frame, suddenly calmer. "Did you... plan this?" she asked softly. She tried to keep the hope out of her voice but it was hard. But maybe he had planned it. He was not above sabotage after all. But maybe Derek didn't want her to go out on that date? (Maybe he was jealous?)
Derek's face screwed in confusion. "Plan what?"
"This. Did you want me to miss my date?" she asked. She wanted him to say yes so badly. To say that he didn't want to share her with anyone else. To tell her that he kept her out late for a reason.
"What? No!" he argued sitting up alarmed by the accusation.
"You sure?" she frowned, giving him one more chance to fill that need she had in her heart.
"Yeah, Case. I promise. I wouldn't do that to you," he added softer that time.
Her eyes started to fill with tears, she knew she was seconds away from crying. And she didn't need to do it in front of him. She turned on her heel abruptly.
Somewhere behind her she heard Derek chasing her down the stairs. "Princess," he groaned, following her in nothing but his boxers.
Casey stopped at the bottom of the stairs. There he was, clad in only his boxers, face flushed, hair a mess. Casey just shook his head brushing away a few stray tears. She was so stupid. No, of course he didn't plan it. It was all in her head. It always was. He didn't want her. Not like that. She'd get over her stupid crush once they went away to college. Till then she'd just have to survive.
"I'm fine," she lied easily. "I gotta go," she added, running out the front door.
Casey stormed into her house. She needed a shower badly. To get the scent of Derek off her skin, out of her hair. She was nauseous too, but was it due to the drinking or to her fight with Derek?
"Case, is that you honey?" Nora called when she saw Casey run into the house like a hurricane.
Shit . She had forgotten to let her mom know she wasn't coming home. She had left Dereks so fast she didnt even bother to look at her texts. "Yeah. Sorry, mom. I-" she started to explain.
"Oh, I know honey. Derek texted me. You guys were out late so you slept over," Nora offered.
Because of course, he texted her mom to let her know she wasn't coming home. Cause he was a goddamn angel, and it wasn't fair. "Yeah- exactly. I need to get ready for my date," she pivoted making her way to her room.
"You ok honey?" Nora asked softly, knowing something was off.
" Fine ," Casey bit out with a little too much oomph behind the word.
"She's fighting with Derek," Lizzie chimed in.l form the top of the stairs. "You could tell by the face," Lizzie explained, pointing at Casey's general direction as she walked passed.
Nora frowned, clearly following the logic. "Oh no. What happened?"
Casey scrubbed her face. She was tired of lying. "I thought…" she trailed off. "I just thought he was trying to ruin my date," she shrugged, feeling exhausted by the whole thing.
Nora misunderstood. "Why would he do that? Just last night he told me he had a plan to help you relax. We all know how stressed out you've been. I really don't think Derek would be that cruel."
Casey's heart sank. Another nail in the coffin. He was just being a good friend. He had plans to help her relax before she even mentioned the stupid date...She was lucky to have him. And brat for wanting more.
Casey wasn't in the mood for a date. She didn't want to spend the time doing her hair and her make-up. And really, what was the point if her heart wasn't in it? So she sent a quick text, telling the cute blonde from the mall the truth. Half of it, anyway. She explained that she was hungover and wanted a rain check.
Once that was out of the way she got dressed, legging and an oversized hoodie. Of course, it was Derek's hoodies, but still. She promised herself she'd get over him in a few months when they were at different universities and had miles between them. Till then… she allowed herself to pine. She was only human.
She found herself in her car, parked outside of the Venturi residence once again. She knew Derek wouldn't be there. But she knew the president of the Derek Venturi fan club was. Marti was beyond excited to see Casey at the door picking her up for Derek's game. Sure, they would be a little late but at least they would get there by the second period. And something was better than nothing.
Once seated both girls got lost in the game and watched Derek play. They always did. He was amazing on the ice. It was no wonder he had multiple scholarships lined up. Casey was so proud of him. Not like she had anything to do with it, but she remembers when they met, all those years ago, and the way that he told her he was going to be a hockey player when he grew up. And dammit, he was on the right path.
After the game, they meet him by the locker room where they normally did. The only difference was that this time, Derek wasn't expecting them.
He didn't have time to think about it when Marti was flying into his arms. He caught her effortlessly. She was getting big but he'd catch her as long as she wanted him to. With Marti in his arms, Derek made his way towards Casey who was leaning against the wall waiting for them. It was unfair how adorable the sight of them was. It was all warm and fuzzy and made Casey want to be a part of it.
" Shit ," he cursed, his smile dropping when he reached her. She watched his eyes roam over her, soaking in her disheveled appearance. "I ruined your date huh?" he frowned, finally meeting her eyes.
" Oh . No," Casey blushed, tucking her hair behind her ear, embarrassed. She knew his eyes on her didn't mean anything, but it felt like it could. "He canceled actually," she lied. Because yeah he sort of did ruin her date. But it didn't matter anyway. Derek ruined her the day they met. No one would compare.
Derek let out a long sigh like he was considering something. "I'm sorry," he finally said. "I know you were looking forward to it," he explained, putting Marti down. It looked like he was going to pull Casey into a hug, but thought better of it, keeping the space between them. Casey hated the feeling. Hated the idea of losing her best friend, of having something come between them. That's why she had to let her feelings go.
Casey winced. "It's fine. Let's get out of here," she decided, pushing off the wall, hoping they could just drop the whole thing and go back to normal.
Marti, ever the peacekeeper, slipped one hand into Caseys and the other into Dereks and led them out to the parking lot, skipping as she went. "How bout we get some ice cream?" she suggested, looking up at the pair with those trademark puppy eyes.
And all was forgotten.
AN: I'm not sure if you follow me on A03 but you should. I post their first/more often.