Ok, this chapter was a rush order. I wanted to get out one more chapter before I leave tomorrow. I most likely will have connection, but I didn't want to leave you all hanging. I'm getting on the airplane tomorrow, and I really can't wait. Have fun, enjoy, and review!

Luv,

Summer K.

"Hey, Casey." Derek answered.

"Hey, Derek. It's you." Casey said.

"Who'd you think it would be?" Derek asked with slight disbelief. Could she possibly be meeting guys in the hospital?

"No one. So what's up?" she asked quickly. He suspected she was covering up something.

"Nothing. But guess what?"

"What?" she asked.

"Well, dad and Nora said it was ok...so I invited Sam and Emily to celebrate my birthday at the hospital with you." he said as smooth as ever. Yes, the real Derek Venturi is back.

Casey sucked in a breath. "Sure! That'll be awesome." she paused hesitantly. "Do you mind if I bring a friend. If you don't want him to crash the party, its ok."

Alarms went off that Derek thought shouldn't have. Derek didn't want to be mean to Casey but...

"It's fine. He can come." Derek said.

"Thanks, Derek. Guess what!" Casey sounded really excited.

"What? You have another friend you want to bring?" Derek asked sarcastically.

"No, Derek. I can walk!" Casey paused to hear his reaction.

"So?" Derek said, pretending not to care.

"Uhg, Derek! Can't you be happy for me, just this once?" She caught on, and laughed as she scolded him.

"Wait, come and tell the rest of the family." Derek ran downstairs with his cell phone where the family was having breakfast.

"Guys, guess what?" Derek said waving the cell phone. He pressed the speakerphone button on his phone.

"Hey everyone, it's Casey." Casey said over the phone.

Nora's eyes grew wide. "Hey Casey!" she said along with everyone else.

"Ok, I have a little surprise for you." she said. "I can walk!"

"Yes!" Lizzie had jumped up, and knocked her chair down in the process.

Nora's eyes watered. "I knew you would." she said. She went over and hugged the very excited Lizzie. She and Edwin shared a quick hug that only Derek noticed. George hugged his wife and Marti meowed what seemed to be a song.

"Hey, Case. I'll be over at about 11 o'clock. OK?"

"Sure. Bye Derek."

"Bye." he hung up, and went to get a plate of food.

Nora was wiping her eyes, and Lizzie couldn't stop smiling. Things seemed to be working out, even though nothing was normal. It had been an out of control week. He could just imagine what he would write when the teachers asked him to describe what he did this summer.

That morning, after she had gotten off the phone with Derek, she called Tyrique to invite him to Derek's party. Derek sounded hurt when she asked him if she could bring Tyrique. She shook her head. Derek was her stepbrother, he was detestable, and she usually couldn't stand the sight of him, so why did she have second thoughts about inviting Tyrique? He was drop-dead gorgeous, and he seemed interested in her. Who knows, they could have a relationship after they were released from the hospital. She took a breath and dialed his private hospital line. If all went well, he would say he couldn't come.

But all didn't go well. He was more than happy to come and meet her friends. She shook a feeling of pity from her head. Derek was, well, Derek. How else was she supposed to describe him? She called a nurse to help her get ready. She wanted to get out of the horrid hospital clothes they had put her in. At 10:30, Tyrique wheeled into her room, also dressed in street clothes.

"Hey Casey." he said with a smile.

"Hey. You surprised me. I didn't know you were coming early." Casey said, putting down the notebook she had been writing in.

"How is your walking coming along?" he asked.

"Fine, look." She removed the covers from herself and swung her legs down. "See? I can move my legs by myself." she said proudly. She leaned against the bed as she steadied herself slowly. Then she took a step, and another. Before she knew it, she had crossed the room. Tyrique did too. But his walk was funny, since he had two prosthetic legs. Casey slowly made her way to her wheelchair and sat down.

"I never thoughtI could do that." she said with a sigh. Tyrique wheeled up next to her.

Derek rummaged his closet to find something to wear. He wanted to wear his classic brown T-shirt, but it didn't feel good enough to go see Casey in. Since when did I care about what Casey thought of me? He still looked through his clothes. He pulled out a pink dress shirt. He looked at it, and then laughed to himself. It was from a prank she had played on him when they had first moved in. Casey had actually given him sleeping pills, so he barely remembered her dressing him up, and putting on make up. When he woke up that fateful morning, Sam and Emily had supposedly 'dropped in' for breakfast. Derek failed to make a bathroom stop, and went straight downstairs, when he reached, everyone burst out laughing. He remembered Casey smiling at him as she quickly took a picture andbrought him a mirror. He had on make up, and the pink dress shirt. Everyone knew he hated pink. He was so mad at Casey, but he laughed along with everyone.Derek never did get back at her for that. He couldn't think of a prank cruel enough. Those were the good days, where no one liked anyone else except for Nora and George. He pulled out his favorite brown polo shirt and put the pinkshirt over it. He could break his own rules once in a while, what were rules for?

He did nothing to his hair, and walked out his bedroom, only to run into Marti.

"Where are you going, Smerek?" she asked.

"To the hospital." he said picking her up and carrying her down the steps over his shoulder.

"Hey!" she said giggling. "Put me down!" she cried.

Derek laughed, and swung her down. "Ok dad, I'm ready!" he called.

"Alright, let's go." George said coming from the kitchen. They walked out the door to the minivan. Once they had begun to drive off, George chuckled to himself.

"You know, I always imagined you having a huge party for your sixteenth birthday." he said, thoughtfully.

"You know dad, I've been thinking." Derek said.

"Forget it, your not getting a party." George said quickly.

"I wasn't going to ask for one." Derek said. "What I was going to say was that, I'm growing up, and I'm maturing."

George burst out laughing. "Where is this going Derek? What do you want?" he said.

"Nothing? Why do you think I always want something, dad?" Derek said, trying to hide his smile.

"Because, Derek, you're sixteen. You can now drive. That's it!" George exclaimed.

"What? You're going to pay?" Derek said hopefully. "Thanks, dad. That would be an excellent-"

"No, Derek. I'm not paying. That's your punishment for that party you had. You will have to pay for your own driving lessons."

Derek was astonished. "What? That's not fair, dad!"

"It wasn't fair for you to throw that party without our permission. Look, we'll talk about this another time." George said ending the conversation. Derek couldn't help but sulk.

I thought it would be only fair if Derek was punished for that party, and Casey on the other hand, won't. Anyway, I kind of ran out of ideas, and I wanted to get the chapter out ASAP, so I'm sorry if you find it random. Anyone have any ideas? Please tell me through your reviews, and I'll totally give you props. Have a happy vacay everyone!

Luv,

Summer K.