Here it is, the buffer series to hold you over while I finish other stories. I had intended it to be a song fic but by page 20 I realized that would be a stretch. I have no idea how Amazon's Top 5 works but I figured to do it that way for the story. Hope you enjoy and as always please be honest but polite in your reviews.
Derek Venturi was double checking his agenda for the next class when Hank walked over to him excited, "Man, you have to listen to this."
Derek looked around the teacher's breakroom and seeing that they were alone for the moment, he sighed, "Fine, what is it?"
"I caught some students listening to this during one of my classes." Derek tried not to laugh as this was a normal thing that plagued the other teachers, but he had never had to deal with, and he was the one who taught Algebra. Instead he stayed quiet and gave Hank a glare to get to the point.
Hank checked to see if there was anyone around before turning off his Bluetooth and hitting play on his phone. Derek was about to say something when a voice of a teenager started in midsentence about how he wants to get intimate with his girlfriend but doesn't want to have sex yet.
The sultry voice of a woman replied with a chuckle, "Nice to know that chivalry isn't dead. Have you tried kissing her lips?"
The teenage boy answered in confusion, "Yeah. All we do is make out."
The sultry voice snickered, "I was talking about the other lips, Honey, but that answers my question.
The teenager replied, "What other li- Oh! I never thought of that."
The sultry voice teased, "Most men don't, Sweetie. Now, have either of you explored the Promised Lands?'
Derek reached over and hit the pause button. His heart was pounding as he knew that voice, but he covered and said, "Kids are going to turn to someone online if they can't get the answers here or at home. What's the name of the podcast?"
Hank tilted the phone so that Derek could see website. "Midnight Lessons with Sandra Desire. It livestreams every Friday night." Flicking his thumb, the page scrolled down and showed several images of an alluring brunette in suggestive poses. Her face was always turned away from the camera and obscured by her hand and a fedora. Derek didn't need to see it to know it was his long-time roommate. He knew that voice the second she had spoken, the images just confirmed by showing parts that he had only seen in passing when Casey had gone in and come out of the bathroom.
Hank continued, "Would you believe that she gives this away for free? Yeah, you could join her Patron, but that only gets you ASMRs of her reading poetry or chapters of her book on sexuality, she gives them first release of her new photos, but that doesn't show any more than this." He then made the mistake of cracking a joke, "I guess that's all she could offer with her butter face."
Derek's fist tightened on its own and if it weren't for blind luck, he would have punched Hank, but his phone rang. He hopped out of his seat and walked away from his coworker as he answered it, "What is it Case? I've got class in ten minutes."
"DER-EK! Don't be rude. I'm at the store and was calling to see what you want for dinner." Casey chastised.
Derek was glad that Casey was sticking to their normal banter as it let him relax after that bombshell. Which is why he felt bad about lying, "Actually, I have a date tonight. I'll eat then."
"Oh. I thought you and Rachel broke up." Casey said, Derek could hear the disappointment in her voice. And not just because her and Rachel never got along.
Derek hated hearing her upset and tried to cheer her up a little, "It's not Rachel. In fact, it's not really a date. We have a new teacher, and I'm helping her get settled in. It shouldn't take too long; I'll be home around eight. Why don't you try that tofu casserole again?"
There was a pause before Casey said, "You hate tofu. Why would you ask for that?"
Shit. Too nice. Derek scrambled and said, "It made me sick for a week, but you seem to love it. I just thought that since I was going to miss dinner that you could make yourself something that you would want. God, McDonald, we've known each other long enough to know I'm not that selfish. I have to head to class, but I'll be home by eight, I promise."
That seemed to work as Casey's tone lightened and she said, "It wouldn't have if you ate better. But you're right. For once. Thanks for the idea. See you at eight."
Once off the phone, Derek was almost glad that Hank had gone back to listening to the podcast and was oblivious to the conversation Derek had just had with his stepsister. Gathering his stuff, Derek texted Rim: I no bout Sandra. Call me. If anyone that he and Casey knew had any idea about what she was doing, it would be her.
The last class was blur as he just had the students break into small groups and review the last couple of chapters. He tried to piece together what he just learned. Why? Not why was she doing it, but why had she never told him about it? Casey should know that he didn't mind her being sexual. True, they have developed a routine of clearing the apartment when the other one had someone sleeping over. Derek wasn't one to slut-shaming, hell of the two of them he had the most partners; Casey was more of a serial-monogamist, only taking a guy home when she was getting serious about him. Well expect for Richard, but everyone agrees that she more than paid for that.
Staring at the clock on his school laptop, he wondered if it was because he was in love with her. The problem with that train of thought was he had never told her. At this point it was pretty clear to everyone but Casey. Actuality, she was an intelligent woman, she probably knew. If she didn't, it was because of willful ignorance.
At that thought, the bell rang, and Derek dismissed the students and reminded them of their assignment for the next class. He could tell his demeanor confused and worried some of them as they whispered among themselves while leaving well casting glances in his direction. They probably think I'm dying by the way I'm acting.
Before he could ponder on how they would react if they knew that it involved the 'hot chick' that sometimes stopped by, his phone rang. He barely had it to his ear when Rim started talking, "How? About fucking time, you did. I was this close to just texting you the site and fleeing the province before Casey could try and kill me. Wait, you're at work. Why are you looking up sex stuff while at high school? Oh, that's it. You caught one of the kids listening to the podcast and recognized Casey's voice. Yeah, that's it. I'm right, aren't I?" Rim rarely got this excited and Derek wasn't thrilled that once again it was him and Casey that caused it.
When she finally stopped to take a breath, he interrupted while pinching the bridge of his nose, "I can only answer your questions if you shut up after asking them. And I'm the one with the important ones, remember? Casey thinks I'm helping a new teacher get settled in. I'm really heading to your place, so you explain what's going on. But I need some basic info until then."
"So, there isn't a new woman in your life? Casey would be glad to hear that; she was heading here for another recording session when I got your text and had to cover that my girlfriend was here." Rim replied, her calm almost analytical manner returning after her outburst.
"Recording session? The website said she livestreams. And why would she be heading to your place." Derek started gathering his things as he resisted the urge to just sweep everything into his satchel and run for his car.
Rim sighed, "Where do you think Casey does this from? And yes, recording sessions. Because, instead of telling you she's jealous or hurt by something you said, she comes over here and sings her heart out for an hour. You should see the size of her catalog."
"Hey, cut me some slack! I just found out what Casey does for money! I'm not thinking clearly!" Derek had shouted this into the phone as he fumbled with the lock to his classroom. He could feel the eyes staring at him and the whispers increase. He quickened his pace as he said more calmly, "I just want to know why. Why has she kept this from me?"
"You mean why does Casey give sex and relationship advice to complete strangers instead of just fucking your brains? 'Physician heal thy self.' 'Those that can't do, teach.' Pick an excuse, she's used them all. Just know that she's helped a lot of people by refusing to say she's in love with you."
"Rim, she's not in love with me. It's just cheaper to share the expenses." Derek countered.
"Yeah, that's why a successful woman whose book is on one of Amazon's top five list and makes thousands a month moved more than halfway across Canada with an Algebra teacher. It's to save money. I admit, you two can be entertaining but I can't help wondering why your family hasn't locked you in a room and not let you out until you finally settled this."
"They've tried. I'll be there in twenty minutes. You can yell in my face then." Derek answered before hanging up. After a minute, he looked up Sandra Desire on Amazon. Rim was wrong, 'Sandra' wasn't on one top five, she was on three.
See you on the 29th.