CHAPTER- now edited!

"Derek…" Casey called softly, after glancing over her shoulder and noticing him standing by her door "You haven't spoken to me in two weeks. I really don't know what to do anymore."

Her eyes remained locked on him, as he leaned against her doorframe, his face tight with anger. Casey looked away after a few more seconds, attempting to return her attention to the boxes spread across her bed. It was their last day at home: a rainy, obscure Friday before they had to leave for their new boarding school. Casey was thrilled, the news had settled quite well with her, as someone who had dreamt of being on her own for as long as she could remember. Derek, on the other hand, was dreading having to pack his things and leave his reign. He had been in charge of that house for as long as he could remember as well, and he wasn't exactly the best at dealing with change, especially the change that didn't favor him in any way.

"I don't understand why you're mad at me." Casey sighed, fitting another blue shirt into the already over-packed suitcase. "It's not my fault. You threw the party, and we got caught. I don't get why you're so angry! But I appreciate the silence, nonetheless."

She could still feel his presence, but she couldn't bring herself to look back at him. There was nothing else to be said. Even though she had always fantasized about a quiet, peaceful existence without snarky and mean comments from Derek, she was now realizing it was nothing like she thought it would be. It was agonizing; nothing she did was worthy of a response from him. Though she could never understand it, Casey enjoyed getting on his nerves, it was gratifying and just fucking fun.

And this time she couldn't help but overthink his consistent silence: Was this really that painful for him? Or was he just pretending so that he could easily manipulate her? It was mentally exhausting to wonder if it was real. Derek had always been an exceptional performer; an expert at making people feel sorry for him, especially in situations like these, where it was mostly his fault.

But he wasn't the only one pretending. In fact, Casey had been pretending for the whole of those two weeks that it didn't bother her that Derek hadn't said a word to her. She glowed fake happiness, throwing smirks and excited looks whenever he didn't reply to her. In the back of her head, she suspected Derek knew it was bullshit, but it suited her to think she was faking it rather well.

"Please stop looking at me." Casey begged; her back still turned to him "If you have nothing to say, just go."

Derek cleared his throat, drawing attention to himself.

"Just don't speak to me when we get there." He warned, his words like darts to Casey's chest. "Or even better, just don't talk to me ever again."

It was her turn to fall silent. He had never been that fucking cold before. Casey felt tears scratch her eyes and blinked them away quietly. She prayed Derek didn't realize what was going on, as she continued to pack her things, seemingly ignoring him. His footsteps gave away his exit, and Casey immediately turned to the door, kicking it shut, before finally allowing tears to break free.

Crying over Derek was pathetic and confusing. He had never made her cry before, besides a hint of some angry tears during their most brutal fights, and she was not going to let him do it now. Casey wiped away her teary cheeks and closed her eyes, allowing herself a full minute before she went back to work, because she would rather die than let a minor emotional breakdown stun her efficiency. In fact, there was only one sure way to get over such a meaningless, vulnerable moment: to redirect her focus back to her to-do list, which continued to grow even though Nora had already warned three times not to overpack.

And Derek… Well, he would break eventually; he had to. It was inevitable. He would surely get into trouble at the new school as soon as he set one foot into it. He would ask for her help, she would give him a lecture on why following the rules was not only crucial but also enjoyable, he would get mildly annoyed but she would cave and help him by, most likely, breaking the rules too. It was routine, familiar and comforting in a way she wasn't willing to explain. It was obvious this strange tantrum of his would pass, and until then, she would just have to ignore him as well. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

"Casey, dear," her mother opened her door, letting out a deep, slightly regretful sigh as she noticed the number of boxes spread around her daughter's room "You're not done with those yet?"

"Of course not." Casey replied, rubbing her teary eyes one more time before turning to face a concerned Nora.

"Honey, we're sort of running out of space in the car…" Nora cleared her throat "And I'm sure you won't need all of this anyway! It would be nice of you to actually leave some space for the other students, don't you think?"

"If I can't come prepared, might as well not come at all." Casey nodded, seemingly agreeing with herself.

"I'm just saying… You will be wearing a uniform most of your time. Why are you packing up so many clothes?"

"I'm just leaving space for Lizzie…" Casey lied.

"You want her to move in here when you're gone?" Nora narrowed her eyes at her daughter, surprised.

"Well, why not?" She shrugged "The poor girl deserves some space."

"I thought she liked her room…" Nora whispered to herself.

"Mom, I'm sure she does, but I don't know, I'll just let her know that it's okay if she wants to move into my room."

"Yes, that's nice of you." Nora reached out, hugging her daughter quite tightly "But you really can't bring all of this with you on campus. Books and study-related objects are encouraged, but clothes are immensely frowned upon. Pack as light as you can, Casey, Derek is already occupying half the trunk with his guitars."

"That's so unfair and selfish." Casey pulled away from their hug, her hands tightening into a fist "That's so… Derek."

"If you feel like you really need something you didn't bring, George and I will drive up on the weekend and bring whatever you need, okay?" Nora calmed her, already making excuses to see her precious daughter that hadn't even left yet.

"Thanks mom, I really appreciate that." Casey smiled, pulling her mom into a last hug before pushing her out of the room "Now please leave, I have to unpack and make a list of new priorities to only pack the absolutely necessary."

"Don't stay up all night doing that though!" Nora warned her, already outside "We're leaving in the morning!"

Casey barely nodded, already with her mind elsewhere, mentally listing all her belongings and categorizing them in only 2 categories: absolutely essential and unnecessary in the foreseeable future. After so much forced change in the past few months, Casey was looking forward to upgrading and moving into an environment that would actually benefit her Type A personality. She would miss her family, blood-related and even the one she gained when she lost everything else, but it was time for a new chapter. A chapter where she wasn't the only one miserable, and a new school that Derek didn't already control. That was a fair beginning for both of them.

Before she could finish her grand to-do list, exhaustion struck and guided her to her bed, for one last night. She would certainly miss her day-to-day in London. Endless phone conversations with Emily, a heart that skipped beats whenever Sam was around, and fighting with Edwin over what channel to watch on the TV next. Yet not having to share walls with Derek, and consequently, with his loud, distasteful music was absolutely freeing; and that was enough for now.

"DE-REK!" Casey screamed, banging repeatedly on the bathroom door "You've been in there for nearly half an hour already! Get out!"

No reply. She could hear him move around in there, his always loud stumping giving each of his movements away. One last morning fight with Derek, I can do this.

"Please, please, please get out!" She continued to try to capture a reaction out of him, but it was as effective as talking to a wall.

The door handle turned and out got Derek, with a tired, annoyed expression drawn all over his face. His brown eyes were narrowed due to his sleepy state, and his hair was wet and uncontrollable. Casey swallowed hard, avoiding any more eye contact with him, unsure if she would turn to stone if she kept looking at him. He shoved her aside, his bare shoulder touching hers aggressively.

"Real mature." Casey exhaled, quickly shutting the door behind her with a strong kick.

He was driving her absolutely mad. Who knew him not saying a word to her would actually annoy her even more than them fighting? She needed distance from him, immediately. Even the bathroom smelled sickeningly like him and that overrated cologne he insisted on wearing every day. Her eyes drifted to the bathroom floor and her stomach twisted. If he had never thrown that stupid party, they would've never gotten into trouble. Well, at least not that time.

Derek was absolutely committed to his role: for the whole of those two weeks, he stood silent and proud. Though temptation allured him continuously, he never once let out a mean comment, nor did he insult or even acknowledge Casey. It was surely the hardest task he could have ever handed to himself, since his most important function was to, well, bother her. Which included annoying and tormenting her, make her yell, and pretty much make her revolted with anything and everything. She was his favorite, (and only) target. Nothing satisfied him more than hearing her yell absolute non-sense at him, or hear his name with a tint of desperation and anger. It was the best way to pass the time. So, to put it simply, those two weeks were boring. Without his attempts to irritate Casey, and without her dramatic reactions, things around the house were just tasteless. He would still rather have boring than cave and talk to her, but it was still no fun to live like that.

"Still not talking to Casey, huh?" Edwin commented, pouring cereal into a dirty bowl and sitting on the kitchen with Derek "I'm impressed."

"Oldest trick in the book, Edweirdo." Derek shrugged, showing a cocky smile "We all know Casey lives for the attention, so the best way to really get to her is to ignore her entire existence."

"You're an actual evil genius, bro." The younger brother chuckled.

"I hope you've been paying attention all the years; now that I'm not going to be around here, I need you to be the tormenter. I'm expecting you to live this legacy the right way. Don't let me down."

"I won't, I promise." Edwin nodded, placing his hand dramatically over his chest.

"Dad and Nora are getting softer by the minute, you'll have it so much easier than I had." Derek huffed, trying to hype his brother up, aware that he was probably feeling less confident in the prospect of being without guidance from now on.

"Sure hope so, D." Edwin half-smiled, eating another mouthful of cereal "You nervous about today?"

"When have you ever seen me nervous?" He rolled his eyes "Being nervous is for the weak. I'm a leader, Edwino, you know that."

"Right…"

"I conquered this school and will surely cause the same effect at the new one. It's all a matter of confidence."

"But preppy private schools are much more Casey's style. She'll probably adapt better than you."

"Untrue. She's a perfectionist. Something about the new school won't be as she wants, and she won't get anywhere. I, on the other hand, will shape my surroundings to my needs, something Casey could never do even if she wanted to. So, Edwino, don't you ever underestimate me ever again."

"Fine." Edwin shrugged "You got this."

"Great." Derek smiled, satisfied "Now go put my stuff in the car."

"Yes, Derek." His younger brother reluctantly got up, letting Derek win like always. "Speaking of the devil…"

Just as Edwin left the kitchen, Casey made her way in, with her hair still slightly dripping down her back. She was wearing a tight-fitting red top and washed-out jeans. Derek forced himself to look away, but his brain was questioning everything about that picture. Casey had never worn that top before; he was absolutely sure of that. With his keen sense of observation, he could probably recognize almost every article of clothing she owned, and until now, he had no idea the red top made the list. She would have never worn it any other day, all because she had this ridiculous idea that people wouldn't take her seriously if she drew attention to her body. Typical Casey: an advocate for women's right to wear whatever they want (knowing that should never diminish their character), but being too scared to face the judgement herself. Just typical Casey… Complex yet so simple.

That morning was just another example of that. Either she was so nervous about moving to another school that she'd be willing to completely change her image, or she had already packed all her favorite clothes and this was all that was left. If only he could ask her some incriminating questions and find out.

"Casey, are you ready to go?" George asked, pointing to her with a satisfied look.

"Almost." Casey replied, grabbing an apple "I haven't eaten yet. Sorry, George."

It's all good, for now we're actually ahead of schedule!" He smiled, enjoying that sensation for what seemed to be the first time "I'll just cross-check everything with Nora while you eat."

Casey nodded, pouring some orange juice in a glass, facing away from both him and Derek.

"And you…" George sighed, holding in a very obvious chuckle "Please stop using Edwin as a luggage carrier. Now I have to give him 5 bucks to shut up."

"Sorry dad, I'm saving all my energy to make the ladies at the new school fall for me." Derek smirked, trying to believe every word he was saying.

"Talk about a mission impossible…" Casey huffed, rolling her eyes.

George eagerly waited for his son's reply, but silence awkwardly filled the space between them.

"Well, Derek, I'm sure the ladies will appreciate if we make it there on time. I'm waiting for you guys outside."

"Sure thing." He shrugged, getting up to leave with him as well "Just got to go check if Edwin did a good job carrying my guitars to the car."

His icy stare landed on Casey, who thankfully seemed bothered, which was the new normal those days. She felt a shiver creep up her spine, she hated when Derek looked at her like that. Even more than that, she hated how much the whole situation was bothering her. One could only hope no one noticed it that much.

Nora asked one more time if everyone was ready before hurrying Derek and Casey to the car. Lizzie was slightly devastated she couldn't join the family on the trip, but Edwin was just thrilled he could sit all morning in Derek's chair watching cartoons. Without Derek around, the possibilities for entertainment were endless.

"Lizzie, I'll call you tomorrow as soon as I'm settled in, all right?" Casey assured her, pulling her sister into a hug "I promise."

"I can't wait to hear what you think about the new school." Lizzie smiled "Hope everything is as you want it to be."

"It won't be, without you in it!" she smiled, blinking away any hints of tears welling in her eyes "Take care of yourself and please don't let Edwin go more than two days without showering."

"That would be a public health disaster." Her little sister giggled, reaching out for another hug.

"I'll miss you, sis." Casey sighed, pulling away when she noticed George impatiently standing by the car.

Derek appeared suddenly behind them, now carrying a very upset Marti in his arms, as she silently cried.

"Smarti, it'll be okay, I promise." He assured her, giving her a loving kiss on the forehead.

The little one nodded without smiling, rubbing her teary, red eyes. Derek put her down, still linking his hand with her tiny one, as he looked at his father, begging for some type of parental intervention. George obliged, picking her up.

"Marti, the babysitter will be here soon." He said, also sending the message across to Lizzie. "Now Derek really has to go."

"Bye Smerek." Marti spoke through muffled cries.

"Be good, Smarti!" Derek kindly smiled, running his hands through his hair.

Lizzie took Marti's hand and brought her inside, where Casey could eye a very entertained Edwin who she knew wouldn't bother saying a heartfelt goodbye. He wouldn't make a scene like that, and Casey wouldn't take it personally; it was all part of his prepubescent priorities: steal Derek's favorite seat, and watch whatever felt inappropriate and grown-up on the TV.

Derek gave Lizzie an awkward but well-intentioned hug before getting in the car with Nora and George, who was already behind the wheel.

"Go back inside, Liz!" Casey told her, waving and blowing a kiss.

As soon as Lizzie got back inside with Marti, George started the car, immediately turning on the radio. He was expecting some sort of argument from Derek as to why they should be listening to heavy rock music, but his son was silent and strangely still. For the first few kilometers of the trip, Nora attempted to make conversation, forcing casual topics into something unnatural. Casey was upset about leaving her sister behind, and about having to sit next to a closed-off, absent-minded Derek, though she could never show it.

"Kids," Nora spoke, after another few minutes of uninviting silence. "I know you're still mad at us… Especially you, Derek, but this is what is best of you, your dad and I truly believe that."

"Please…" Derek huffed, finally giving away a sign that he was still himself. "You already got the upper hand here; there's no need to make us the stupid, reckless kids that got sent away."

"That's not…" Nora sighed, not even daring to finish her sentence.

"Don't speak to Nora like that." His dad warned, gripping the steering wheel "You know you are reckless, you've always been. End of story. Hopefully you'll learn something by living on your own. Maybe you'll learn something about responsibility from Casey."

Derek scoffed loudly at the mention of his perfect stepsister. What could he possibly learn from her? The only thing he did learn was how not to live. Her monotonous lifestyle was his worst nightmare. Who the hell would want to sit at home, night in after night in, reading and studying whilst life happened right outside the door? It just wasn't for him. There was nothing the righteous suburban princess could teach him.

"George, I really don't think…" Casey tried to redeem the seemingly unfixable situation, before being brutally interrupted.

"Oh, shut up." Derek rolled his eyes, his breathing accelerated.

"I thought you weren't speaking to me." She replied, her voice icy and revolted.

"Well, I could never deprive myself from the privilege that is telling you to shut the fuck up."

"Hey!" George impatiently raised his voice "Language!"

"Great sentence, Derek. It only took sixteen years to come up with it."

George let out another frustrated grunt, before stepping up the game and telling both of them to, effectively, shut the fuck up. Seeing his dad that angry was a rare sight for Derek, who had always seen him as just one of them, the dude who was a lawyer by day and a teenager at home. He knew he was an authority figure in some way yet it had never felt like it. Now he was really taking charge, making changes instead of laughing at his son's jokes, and somehow that made him uncomfortable.

Casey shifted in the car seat, switching glances between the window and Derek, who swore he could actually kill her if he looked at her (or something equally dramatic but less violent). There was just one thought that seemed common between them: that they had an unpleasant, long-ass year ahead of them.

Despite some lingering awkwardness, the road trip took less than expected, just under two hours, all thanks to George's slow, meticulous driving and Derek's need to pee every half hour. Casey gave it her absolute best effort to not exchange dirty looks with Derek for the entirety of the drive, which was hard since he was also giving it his all to annoy her. Humming, whistling and talking about subjects that he knew would get under her skin… She knew it was definitely working, but he didn't have to.

By the time they reached Hamilton, Casey was more than exhausted from the whole ordeal. Her hands were begging to wrap themselves around Derek's neck, to choke him mercilessly, like a sweaty dream that surely only psychopaths had. Of course she didn't pay attention to that creepy, violent side of her thoughts, because if she did, her stepbrother would have stopped picking fights about ten minutes after they had first met. In any way, all she really wanted was to get out of the car and ignore Derek's presence for as long as humanly possible.

"George, aren't we a little lost…? Sweetie…?" Nora cleared her throat, noticing how far they now were from the city center.

"I'm following the map. I think it's this way." George replied, with fake, blind confidence only he knew how to demonstrate.

"I didn't realize the school was this far from the center."

"It's not that far…" Casey shrugged, enjoying the green pastures around them "Fifteen minutes at most, mom. We're just outside Hamilton now."

George slowed down, pointing to a grand building on top of a small hill.

"Isn't that it?"

"From the pictures, I think so." His wife nodded, admiring it with care.

"It's really quite nice, isn't it?" Casey noted, with a dreamy yet nervous tone to her voice.

As George drove the car up the hill and into the actual school, Casey's eyes were immediately drawn to the graceful architecture of its front. Like a surreal, old palace, it stood beautifully just above some granite, large steps, giving it some height and distance from the entrance gate. For a perfectionist like herself, it was the most harmonious mixture between classic and slightly modern, with its glass doors and a discrete pink color. Casey could only wonder what actually stood beyond those doors.

With a sharp, loud sigh, Derek let everyone know he was the only one still completely unimpressed with the sight. He could feel the weight of the next few months, or even years if Nora and George decided to, press on his chest, slowing down his breathing to a dangerous rhythm. For someone as usually expressive as he was, Derek suddenly felt like lying down and disappearing into the immense nothingness. There was something so wrong about the idea of him moving, something so ridiculously unnatural about him actually being there, it all made him sick. If there was any time to be humble and admit he felt like a fish out of water, it was now.

Like he was reading his son's thoughts, George called out to him, after carefully parking the car by the main entrance.

"Derek, are you okay?"

"I am." He cleared his throat, deciding it was best to keep his dignity than to admit his misery. "Just tired… Oh, and hating everything about this unfortunate situation."

"Good." George nodded, getting out of the car "That's how people learn. Now help Casey with the luggage."

Good. That's how people learn- How fucking morally rich of him.

After shutting the car door with a feverish force he didn't know he had, Derek slyly placed himself behind Casey, who was clumsily struggling to get her bags and boxes out of the trunk. Instead of approaching her, he thought it would benefit both of them if he just stood by and watched her.

"Don't break anything, Klutz." Derek warned, letting his presence known.

"How about I break one of your guitars, huh, Derek?" She fought back, turning around to face him.

"Don't you dare touch any of them!"

"Casey, please calm down." Nora intervened, gently grabbing her arm.

"Yes, Case…" Derek smiled "Just calm down."

"Oh, fuck off."