Chapter 7: Pancakes and Showers

"I guess the point are still tied huh Casey?"

"Oh I think not Derek," Casey stood up and walked over to the kitchen only to emerge seconds later with a black poster board and bright neon letters spelling out: Casey V.S. Derek. Underneath it was a list of events:

Wrestling Match

Test Drive

Bus Ride

Test Drive 2

"What's that?" I grimaced at the overload of organization. 'Casey really goes past what is normal sometimes.'

"It's... It's a chart of our defeats and winnings." She glanced at it and then at me, As though it was the most obvious thing on earth, and my not knowing what it was, was a direct insult to her work.

She took a neon paint marker from her back pocket and underneath Casey she wrote a large tally mark.

"I'm guessing that's for the wrestling match." 'What can a little organization do to me? Besides I can hang it on my wall to prove I'm the best.' I shrugged and leaned back in my recliner.

Casey nodded, "This is for the first Test Drive matches." She put a tally mark under her name and under mine. I smiled unconsciously at the memory of last night and this morning's races.

I looked at the next item on the list. 'What?!' I shot up in my chair. Casey was reaching over to write another mark under her name.

"Wait! Casey! Don't! We both get points for the bus. I got Pat to stop for me this morning and I missed it when you made it on so we're even."

"No. Derek! That's stupid you can't count that. It wasn't even an agreed upon race."

I smirked and sat back down pulling my hands behind my head. "Then neither of us get the points. Since both bus races weren't agreed to."

She smiled at me and placed her hands on her hips. "I see, fine then." She crossed out number five and put a tally under my name, "That's for the second round of races you won just now."

I smirked again. "Okay so now that all of this is legal and official and what not. Let's make a rule. Winner gets to pick the next game."

Casey seemed to think this through. I couldn't help but stare. She held her index finger to her lips and pressed it tight as though she were eating Pokiee. She looked up at the ceiling and leaned her weight onto her left leg. 'Cute.'

I smiled to myself and she came out of space and nodded, "O-kay then Derek."

"Next game is pool."

"Pool? Like swimming?"

"Are you okay Casey? Swimming in Canada in this weather? NO, I mean billiards pool."

"Oh, umm, but I don't…"

"Look Case, you second' the rule so you have to play by it."

"But I haven't played pool in a while Derek."

"Tough luck kid. You second' the rule so…"

"What ever Derek."

I pulled on the lever and my faithful chair launched me forward. I jumped up and took Casey's outstretched hand in mine.

I shook it once, harder than necessary, and let go quickly. I gave my hand a look of disgust and wiped it on my shirt, "I chose game, and so you choose time."

"How's tomorrow, the garage, at 2?"

'PM?' "But Casey we're in scho…"

"I meant in the morning. I have a lot of homework so I need to use the rest of the day to work." It sped out of her mouth quickly and the words stumbled over one another.

"Oh crap!" 'My essay!' I had to work on it or Mr. O'Brien would kill me, or worse, get me kicked off the team. I knew what I had to ask her for, but the words seemed glued to the top of my mouth.

"Umm are you Okay Derek?" Her bright blue eyes looked at me full of concern almost like a mother. I caught a glimpse of something else in there, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"Umm I wanted to know if… you weren't to busy… I'd … Mr. O'Brien he… the essay… I"

"Am I hearing you right? Are you Derek Venturi, THE Derek Venturi, asking me, his 'grade grubbing stepsister, for help on the essay due Friday?"

I nodded and headed for the stairs. 'Just like her to turn this around and make fun of me.'

"You know what Casey? I don't need your help okay?" I started up the stairs.

"Derek Stop." I turned around, "What?"

"I'll do it, but on one condition… You teach me to play pool."

"Fine, but you have to help me on the essay."

"Fine."

We shook hands.

He turned around and started up the stairs. "Good Night Derek." I called.

I looked around and started to clean the mess my family had made. Empty chip bags and dirty dishes sat on the table. It was a mess I took upon myself to clean. Besides I needed the time to think and vent.

Pool? "I can play some pool. I'm not that good, but… still I know some trick shots and the basics."

I headed for the kitchen and started to pour soap on the sponge. I turned on the water and let it run over the dishes.

"I only asked him for the lessons to annoy him and out of my own benefit."

'Derek's done it loads of times…. Still, he didn't even seem upset by it. And not to mention he's Derek and I'm well, I'm Casey.'

I washed the dishes silently and tried to blank out my head. As I put away the last dish I had dried away I thought, 'Derek had surprised me many times today. Just like I surprised myself'

I started for the living room and began to lift the misplaced objects and put them into their respective areas. 'Like with Marti. It was so… I don't know… humble of him to recognize that what he had said about us,' I dropped his leather jacket and picked it up again, 'Things he said about Marti,' I corrected, 'were uncalled for. Not to mention he comforted her in all the right ways. I think he'll make a great father. Still, the news about Marti not being George's daughter will take some time for her to accept. She seemed alright though."

I fluffed up the seat cushions on the couch and started to unplug the XBOX 360 cables from the television set. 'Derek played well. He finally beat me. Though, I'm not sure if it was because he was good in that last race, or because I let him win.' I pondered this while I packed up the entertainment system. 'I let him win. I let him win because I felt bad for him. He had had a hard day today and with all of the things going on with Marti, Well it just felt right to let him feel in control.'

I stood back and admired my work. The room within itself was presentable. I looked into the kitchen and saw that this was also spotless. Save for a small piece of paper I had seemed to have missed. I picked it up and examined the drawing in my hands.

"Marti's," there was no doubt bout it. It was all purple. I smiled and pulled out a stool. I sat down and looked at the picture for our family members.

It was sooo cute. Lizzie and Edwin were playing soccer, though Edwin was carrying something that looked like a clip board. George and mom were sitting on the sofa swing outside and were holding hands. Marti was rolling on the grass with me and Derek. 'Marti's going to be alright.' I took the picture over to the fridge and stuck it on the door.

The hallway was dark and I stumbled up the stairs. Derek's light was on and it lightened the hallway. I walked into my room and closed the door behind me. The light in the hall turned off and I could hear him getting back into bed. Already dressed, I lay down in my bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

I woke up minuets after my alarm had sounded. The sun was bright and bothersome as it had always been. I yawned and stretched out in my comfortable pink sheets. It was only 6 in the morning and the family as supposed to be waking up in about half an hour.

I opened my door. The hallway was filled with muffled snores coming from the different rooms. Not wanting to disturb any of their makers I tiptoed into the bathroom. I closed the door behind me and turned on the water. As I stripped down I tested the water with my elbow to see if it was the right temperature. 'Perfect.' I hopped inside and let the warm water fall over me. It was cold when the water first touched my bare skin but I stood in place feeling the steam rise. The mirror was fogging and the air was thick. I breathed in the sweet strawberry shampoo and lathered my hair.

My pink sponge was covered in small suds and colorful bubbles. I rubbed it over myself quickly and rinsed off my hair and body. I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. 'Where are my clothes?' I tried to think back to where I put them and realized that I hadn't brought any with me. I peeked into the hallway careful to keep my body hidden.

'No one.' I locked the door again and began to dry my hair. When all was done and all I needed was to put on my clothes, I wrapped my light blue towel around myself twice.

I opened my door and set my dirty clothing in hamper. I turned around to head to my room and there he stood. Messy hair, white muscle shirt, and smiley faced boxers. I tightened the towel the towel around me.

"Morning Klutzilla." He yawned at my general direction as he passed a hand through his hair. I rolled my eyes and he stumbled past me shoving me out of the way as he headed into the bathroom.

"Morning to you to Derika." He growled from the bathroom. I smiled and went to dress in my room.

'Derika… I have to remember to kill him for that one.' I stripped and walked into the shower. Her scent lingered. Strawberry shampoo and vanilla body gel. I smiled as I stood there and reached over to turn on the water. I looked around for my Old Spice and Head and Shoulders.

I waited underneath the running water until it reached a nice temperature. Halfway through the air my hand stopped and the glob of shampoo in it fell onto the wet shower floor. 'Why was Casey walking around half-naked at 6:30 in the morning?' I shrugged and continued to pour another goop into my hand and this time I made it to my head.

'She must have forgotten her clothes in her room.' I smirked. 'Just like her too, to forget things like that. It's just the way Casey is. I can't complain though, that's what I love about her.' I poured Old Spice body wash onto my black sponge. It lathered into small rainbow swirled bubbles. 'She gives me so much to make fun of so how can I not love her for it?' I ran the sponge over my body and rinsed off the shampoo and my soapy body. I turned off the water. 'Got to hand it to her though, she sure did a nice thing with Marti. I like to think she thinks of her as a sister. Not just a step-sister but a real sister. I hope she doesn't hate her for loving me.'

I put a towel around my waist and walked out of the bathroom.

The hall was empty. 'It must be 7:00 by now. So why isn't anyone awake?' I walked into my room and dressed. There were noises coming from outside in the hall. Lizzie and Edwin were fighting over the shower and I could hear Marti running across the hall back and forth.

I opened my door and saw a defeated looking Edwin walk past me. "Girls." He mumbled and walked up to the attic. 'They're not all bad.' I looked over to Casey's door and saw a small bundle of Marti running at me.

I caught her and swung her in the air. "Smerek!" She giggled as I blew raspberries onto her tummy. "Hey my littlest Smarti, where is everybody?"

Marti wriggled away from me and pointed down the stairs. "They all went to get breakfast." I jogged down the stairs and followed the chocolate chip pancakes into the kitchen. Casey was sitting on the island looking at her pancakes and cutting it up into small bite size bits and Dad was running around looking for his files. Nora stood before the stove and hummed as she poured the batter and flipped the fluffy pancakes. I smiled at my new step mom.

"What's so amusing?" Lizzie popped in behind me and announced my presence to the previously oblivious Casey, who had looked up at the sound of her sister's voice.

She was smiling. "So you beat Edwin?" Apparently Casey had also come by the fight and was proud of her sister. "I didn't beat him he just kind of gave up the shower." Lizzie shrugged and sat by her sister on the island. Nora placed a stack of light fluffy pancakes before her daughter.

'Mm those look good. Pancakes. I wonder if she'll make these tomorrow if I ask her to, maybe everyday. I might get tired of them though. But they look so good so how could I?'

"Hey Derek, are you going to sit down to eat or are you planning gone standing there all day?"

I had been standing in the entrance for a while now and I wiped the stupid look off my face as I sat down. Casey smiled, rolling her eyes and I knew that she had seen me.

Nora placed a short stack before me and it took all my inner strength not to down them like a pig. I poured syrup over them and dug in. Warm and fluffy I savored the first bite. 'Hmmm chocolate…."

"HAHAHAAHAH!!"

I opened my eyes. Casey was laughing hard and an amused Lizzie giggled by her side.

"What's so funny?" I said trying to swallow a mouthful of pancakes.

Edwin walked into the kitchen. Lizzie and Casey were, seemingly, trying to control their laughter. He sat next to me and watched the girls with curiosity, and then turned to me.

'Iono.' I shrugged and choked down another mouthful of pancakes. 'Milk!' I glanced around hastily, looking for the white liquid substance. I spotted a glass of chocolate milk by Casey's hand. I groped at it and chugged it down. 'Ah.'

"Hey that was mine." Casey had stopped laughing and barked loudly at me, "Get your own Derek."

"Uh… Uh-uh." I drank the last of the milk and placed the empty glass on the table. I smiled, took up my fork and poked down for another fork full of pancake.

Clink!!!

My pancakes were gone! 'Where'd they go?' I looked around trying to find my pancakes. My bottom lip pouted while I searched the room.

"You finished them already bro?" Edwin said putting another pancake on my plate.

I patted his head and jumped down leaving the pancake on the island untouched.

"I'm going to go to school early. I'm meeting Sam there."

I saw Casey look up and then she returned to a slightly taller stack of pancakes.

'You?!' I curled my fists. 'They're just pancakes. Besides I should wait for pool tonight.'

I grabbed my laptop bag and hurled it over my shoulder. The door closed loudly behind me and I walked down the street heading over to Sam's.

I watched him leave and threw his pancakes off my stack and ate my breakfast slowly and quietly a small smile curled up on my lips.

I heard the bus stop in front of the house and I took up my laptop bag as I drank down the rest of my milk.

"Bye mom, bye Lizzie, bye Ed." I opened the door and called out to Marti on the couch, "I love you Smarti."

I closed the door and walked to the bus. Pat watched the door of my house expectantly.

"Oh, he's not riding on the bus today. He took a ride with Sam."

Pat glared at me and closed the door and walked to the bus. Pat watched the door with everyone else when the bus stopped in front of my highschool.

I walked over to my first class. It went by fast enough. I walked to my second and went it was over I sat with Emily to have lunch."

"So who won?"

"Huh?"

"Did you or Derek win?"

"Oh well it was a tie, and sorry that I didn't see you yesterday I ran home to keep playing."

"Well then come chill at my house today."

"I can't I'm helping him with his essay…"

Emily spit out her pop, "Derek asked you for help?"

I shrugged, not too startled by the idea.

"Well I got to go to sixth period early. So I'll see you later, Em."

I picked up my tray and dumped it into the trashcan. Emily said goodbye and I walked to class.

Class started a few minutes after I got there and I walked home when it ended.

I walked in through the front door and found Derek waiting for me sitting on the dinner table with crisp new never been opened books and notebooks.

"I guess you can help me with my essay now huh?"

Derek smiled at me and patted the chair across from him. I walked over and sat by my mother's husband's son.

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