Chapter One: School Days
Derek Venturi stared at the school clock. Now usual he was asleep right now but today was a wonderful day. The last day of school, his favorite day. What made it even more wonderful was that in two days Casey would be on one side of the world and he was on the other. They'd finally gotten Nora and George to agree on letting them go on vacation by themselves. Casey was going to Russia and he was going to Tokyo. Okay so they weren't that far apart but at least he wouldn't see her until August. Nothing could go wrong.
Casey waited patently for the bell to ring. She was trying her best to pay attention to the teacher but with her big vacation coming up it was impossible. Russia was such a interesting country. It was home to the Indian tribes Proto-Indo-Europeans and Scythia. Plus with the fact that it is part of the Soviet Union, Casey figured she could get some great information on the history of Russia. And there is that one little thing that she would love even more. No Derek.
Derek grinned as the last bell ranged. He was a free man now. He grabbed his school bag and walked over to his usual hockey group. Greg, Frank, Sam, Phil, and Seth.
"Hey D, What's up!", Greg shouted.
"Nothing much. Just excited about the whole vacation thing.", Derek smirked.
"Bragger.", Frank coughed.
"Hey! I heard that!", he laughed.
"So D, won't you miss Casey.?", Sam asked causing Derek to snort.
"Ha! Bro that's funny. No.", he answered.
"Whatever D. Later.", they all waved as they walked away. Derek waved as he walked in the opposite way. He walked past his old locker. He would be in tenth grade next year, of course if he passed. He put all the thoughts he had to do with school aside. He'd be in Tokyo in two days.
Casey walked along the side of Emily. She was going to Russia and Emily was going to the Bahamas. They wouldn't see each other for three whole months. Emily was the only friend Casey had at her new public school. Ever since she moved Emily and her had been best friends. There was good things about their friendship. Like how Emily was always there or how she was such a good friend. Then there was bad things. Like how Emily was strangely obsessed with Derek.
"Case, can you believe we are almost on our own?", Emily sighed.
"What do you mean?", Casey wondered. She knew she was almost done with school but she never thought about being on her own.
"I mean we are in tenth grade. Two more years of high school and then college. Next there's marriage and then we'll be with a baby carriage.", she responded.
"I know, I know. I wonder what it's like?", Casey frowned.
Emily thought. "You'll know this summer. Being in Russia all alone." Casey nodded as she stopped in front of Emily's house. She embraced her in a hug.
"I'll be busy tomorrow so I'll tell you now. I'm going to miss you.", Casey confessed.
"Me too!", Emily squealed. The two girls hugged before heading their separate ways. Casey gulped as she closed the living room door. Emily was right, she was almost finished being a kid. And what scared her more was the thought what if she's not ready.
Derek closed the door behind him. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed him a piece of apple pie along with the gallon of milk. He looked from side to side. The house looked empty so he could do it this once. He placed the neck of the jug against his lips and drunk straight from the jug.
"You know other people drink from there.", Casey pointed as she entered the room. She obviously scared Derek because he ended up chocking.
"I thought I was alone.", he coughed.
"Yeah well so did I.", Casey replied. She searched through every jar. At the last one she finally found what she was looking for.
"What's with the stapler.", Derek asked.
"Because I'm being smart and printing out maps of Russia.", Casey smirked.
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?", Derek shouted.
"Nothing! Nothing Derek!", Casey called as she walked up the stairs. She closed her door, leaving Derek alone in the kitchen.
Casey sat in front of her laptop. She was on wikipedia and already found a ton of good maps. She already knew where she was going but just incase she wanted to go around the town she had her map. She was going to Moscow, the capital of Russia. To get there she had to start at the Ontario Airport and end at the Vnukovo Airport in Moscow. Casey smiled as she looked at the beautiful pictures of her soon to be vacation.
Derek plopped down on his chair. Maybe he should look for a map, but then again if he ever gets lost he could just get some random blonde to pick him up. The was the good thing about being him. No matter how many girls he dumped he could always get a new one.
"There must be some Japanese girls in Tokyo.", Derek whispered to himself as he flipped through the television stations.
"As a matter of fact there is. Here I printed this out for you, knowing you would be too lazy to.", Casey said, handing him a stack of papers.
Derek flipped through the papers. " Uhh thanks, Case."
Casey nodded as she looked towards the door. Her parents were home along with Marti, Lizzie, and Edwin. She smiled as they all walked in.
"Hey Kiddo. How was the soccer game?", Casey smiled at her younger sister. They had this tight bond.
"Great!", Lizzie grinned, holding up a gold trophy. She was proud of her hard earned prize. The team had decided to give her the trophy simply because it was her that stopped the other team from tying with them.
"Lizzie! That's great!", Casey grinned as she exclaimed the trophy. She was proud of her sister. She was such a good kid. With her school work and her free time. Lizzie smiled as she grabbed her trophy from Casey and ran upstairs.
"Okay you two. Go get changed. After dinner it's bed. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow. With packing and buying your tickets.", Nora added. Casey nodded as Derek rolled his eyes. They both ran upstairs.
Derek ran into his room. He had to get his clothes before Casey got her's, or else he would be stuck waiting for her to finish. He grabbed a white t-shirt with a pair of blue flannel pants. The teenager boy dodged his way to the shower and smirked as he turned the door knob. He'd beaten Casey.
Casey grabbed a pair of pink sweatpants with a yellow t-shirt. She'd probably have to wait to use the shower. Knowing Derek he'd probably break his neck before he'd let Casey get there first. Even if she did he'd just push her out the way. Casey walked over to the bathroom door. She turned the knob. Locked. She was right. He beat her. Casey sighed as she walked back into her room.
Nora stood by the stove. She was cooking a shrimp gumbo for her family. Edwin was on the side of her, telling her about what he would do for his summer vacation.
"So I was thinking. First I play Babe Raider for a month. Then I'll watch cartoons nonstop. And lastly I'll watch girls in the mall.", Edwin smiled as he nodded.
"Is that so. Well good luck.", Nora chuckled as she stirred the rue.
"Yep, Derek said I have a good chance. A what Derek says goes.", he added.
"Well I give you all the luck. I hope you'll succeed. You might be able to take Derek's place for the summer.", she smiled.
"No, Derek already warned me. He said he'll have people watching me.", he frowned. Nora raised an eyebrow as she went back to her cooking.
Meanwhile Lizzie, Marti, and George was outside playing Hide and Go Seek. Marti and Lizzie were hiding while George was it.
"Ready or Not here I come.", George called as he begin his search for his daughter and step daughter.
Marti laughed as he daddy walked right past their hiding spot.
"Hmm, where is Marti. Here she is.", George laughed as he picked up Marti causing her to laugh and squirm.
"Daddy, you caught me.", she laughed. Lizzie laughed as she begin to tickle Marti.
"I sure did.", he laughed as he joined in with Lizzie and begin to tickle his daughter.
Derek stepped out of the shower. He grabbed his clothes and quickly changed. After brushing his teeth and hair he walked over to Casey's room. He pushed through the door to see her packing.
"Ever heard of knocking?", she asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, but I don't want to use it. You can go take your shower now. The Derek's finish.", he answered.
"The Derek?", Casey asked as she arched an eyebrow at him.
"Yes, the Derek. Like my new title.", he smirked.
"No, now if you excuse me. I need to take a shower.", Casey smiled as she walked out of her bedroom. She walked into the bathroom and locked the door.
Nora turned the fire off of the stove. The dinner was finished. She grabbed the pot with her mittens and settled it on the counter. She walked into the living room to see Edwin sitting on the couch watching a television show.
"Hey Ed, can you go and tell your dad, Marti, and Lizzie dinner's ready? Once Casey's finished we can eat.", she smiled. Edwin nodded as he walked out of the front door.
"Hey dad! Nora said it's time to eat.", he called out.
"Okay come on kids. Dinner's ready.", George smiled as they all walked towards the house.
Casey stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around her as she blow dried her hair. She brushed her teeth and added deodorant before changing into her clothes. Casey closed the door behind her as she headed downstairs.
"Finally Case. We're starving.", Derek announced.
"Well Derek, I need my daily bath to help my beauty.", Casey said in a matter-of-fact way.
"Yeah, about that. I don't think it's working.", Derek smirked,
"DEREK!", Casey shouted as she ran after him.
"Hey Hey! Enough you two!", Nora sighed. Casey glared at Derek as he returned the favor. They took their seat and begin to eat the shrimp gumbo.
Casey stood up as she placed her bowl in the dish washer.
"Casey and Derek, I think it's bed time. You have a big day ahead of you.", Nora suggested.
"Night mom.", Casey said as she kissed her check.
"Night Nora.", Derek waved as he walked upstairs. However on the way to his room he took a detour. He walked into Casey's room and sat on her bed, waiting for her.
Casey walked into her room to find her evil step brother sitting on her bed.
"Listen Case. Tomorrow's our last day together until August. Let's get along. Truths?", he asked.
Casey who was surprised by his actions nodded." Okay truths."
Derek spit in his hand and held it out. Casey made a disgusted look but reluctantly spit in her hand and shook his. He smiled as he waved good night to Casey and left the room. Casey quickly took out a disinfected baby wipe and passed it across her hands.
Derek crawled into his bed. He laid his head on his pillow and took a quick glance around his room. After tomorrow he wouldn't see this room until August. So many great things had happen in here. Like his eighth kiss with a girl a year older than him or the day his dad bought him a cell phone. Derek fell into a slumber with a smile on his face. Tomorrow was going to be great, along with the rest of the Summer.
Casey crawled into her bed and picked up a notebook from under her bed. It read Casey's Private Journal KEEP OUT! She would write down what happened to her everyday in it.
Dear Journal,
Today Em and I said our good byes. She's leaving tomorrow and I have to pack for my trip. Derek and I seem to be on good terms. He agreed to stop fighting with me tomorrow since it's our last day together until August. Well other than that everything went well and I can feel it in my blood that everything will be great this Summer. I sure hope so.
Casey closed her journal and placed it back in it's regular position. She laid her head against her pillow. She drifted off into a deep sleep knowing tomorrow was going to be great as well as the rest of the summer. It was the beginning of a life time.