Chapter Eight: Dinner.

The bell rand signaling that it was the end of the day. All through the day, Casey was feeling nervous, scared, yet content with happiness.

She felt nervous because she didn't think having Sam, Emily, and especially Derek to be there at the dinner that night. What would Jacob do? What would Sam and Derek would do. She tried to shake it off the whole day, but nothing worked.

She felt scared because she had to see Jacob again. She couldn't believe he was out of jail. Fucking rich ass, she thought to herself as she got up from her desk, picked up her bag and began walking out of her room. Jacob was suppose to be in jail for a couple of more years, but he got out on bail from his father. And he had the guts to look for Casey. She was scared of what he was capable of now. She was scared that he'd attack her again, or do worse.

Despite feeling down about the whole Jacob subject, she still felt happy. Happy because she finally confessed her feelings for Derek. She smiled when she saw him from across the hall talking to Sam. He always knew how to make her laugh, or he's do something funny to see her crack a smile. Derek was the first guy she felt she could trust in almost two years. He helped her through many obstacles these past months. From being able to be comfortable with him, to trusting others. The more and more she was around Derek, the more and more she was going back to her old self. Around him, she felt truly loved. Never thought I'd fall in love with Derek Venturi.

As she opened her locker and put some books in, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist.

"Hello there love," she knew that voice and instantly smiled leaning back against his chest.

"Hey there sap," she joked and turned around to look at a hurt Derek.

"Way to be mean, jerk. I was trying to be nice, and you ruin the moment," Derek said pouting.

Casey giggled and kissed Derek on the lips, "Aw you know I'm just kidding with you. Did I ever tell you, you look mighty cute when you pout?"

Derek smirked and nuzzled his head against her neck, "Yeah, you've told me that before." he moved his head back up and attached his lips towards hers, pushing her again the lockers, begging for entrance to her mouth. She instantly opened her mouth, and they explored each other's mouths till they heard someone clear their throats.

"You know we could come back another time," Sam joked, making Casey turn beet red. Derek looked at Casey and laughed.

"You look sexy when you blush," he whispered in her ears, making her turn more red.

"So are we ready for this?" Emily asked, and Casey instantly let her smile fall. Derek of course noticed it and put his hands on her cheeks.

Casey wouldn't look in his eyes, and he sighed.

"Look at me Case," Derek begged, but she stubbornly shook her head, "Case please," Derek begged again. Casey made a loud sigh and let her eyes look up into his brown eyes.

"I promise, and I'll make sure I'll keep it, that you're safe. He won't hurt you again," Derek swore. Casey only nodded.

"Case, you got me and Derek there at the dinner tonight. Don't worry. If he tries anything, we'll definitely put him in place, right D?" Sam said getting a nod from Derek, and Casey and Emily smacked them on the chest.

"Ow, what was that for?" both boys asked rubbing their chests.

"Derek, Sam, promise me you won't fight him. I'm not about to let my mom ban you from my home because you fight him," Casey warned. "I mean what if you guys get hurt?"

"We won't Case, stop worrying about us. You're safe. And we won't punch. But if he lays a hand on you, I'm killing that asshole." Derek said in a serious tone making Casey chills.

"Me too." Sam promised as he kissed Emily's head.

"Call your brother up and ask him if he's coming too, because I'm sure Liz would think it's unfair I bring you, and then Ed doesn't go," Casey suggested as they began to walk out of the school, with Sam and Emily following her and Derek.

"Alright, let's go to my place till your mom calls. I don't want him near you," Derek warned, and Casey nodded. Derek and Casey stopped walking and Sam and Emily looked at them quizzically.

"Get the car ready, I got to speak to Casey real quick." Derek said and they couple nodded and walked away towards the car hand in hand.

Casey turned to Derek and was about to ask what he wanted, but his lips crashed onto hers, pushing her onto some car. They continued to kiss, till they were almost out of breath.

"So that's what you wanted to talk about, huh? Well that was fun," Casey joked, making Derek smirk. He moved closer towards her, and nibbled on her ear.

"I love you," he whispered making Casey close her eyes smiling.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even more closer, if it was even possible and whispered back, "I know you do."

She tried to run away, but he grabbed her arm and pushed her against the car again playfully, "Case," Derek said with a smile.

Casey rolled her eyes with a smile plastered on her face, "I love you too."

"Well who wouldn't, I am Derek Venturi after all," he joked, making her push him,

He grabbed her hand and entwined it together, as they began to walk towards the car.

"Finally," both Sam and Emily mumbled making Casey and Derek laugh.

Casey sat in the back with Derek. Derek pulled Casey and wrapped his arms around her waist. Before the even started, Sam turned around towards them.

"Alright, you two. Be good. I don't want to be seeing in the mirror you two sucking faces. If I can't do it, you can't," Sam warned in a joking way and then turned around again and started driving, grabbing Emily's hand.

"Yes dad," Derek mumbled.

"I heard that," Sam said making Casey and Emily laugh.

The car ride was quiet, but it was a comfortable quiet. Casey and Derek were just staring at each other's hands that were entwined together. The only thing that was passing through their minds were, I'm so in love.

When they got to Derek's place, they got out of the car and the two pairs walked towards the front door. Casey was looking around the block, making sure to see if Jacob was there or wasn't. Derek noticed this after he opened the door, and reached for her hand. She looked u pat him and he squeezed her hand.

"Do you trust me?" he asked looking straight in his eyes.

"Yes," she said instantly.

"Then don't worry," he said kissing her forehead and saw Sam and Emily walk into the house, and then come out quickly.

"You guys, you're little ones are in the living room again," Emily said laughing. Casey and Derek rolled their eyes and walked in to find Edwin and Lizzie snuggled up, Lizzie's eyes closed while Edwin was nibbling on her neck.

"Aye, how about a couple of minute of not cup caking, huh? I swear you both do it more then us," Derek said shaking his head.

Lizzie looked up at them and went to Casey and hugged her. Edwin also went to Casey and hugged her after Lizzie.

"I'm sorry this is all happening to you Case, Liz told me. Sorry if I wasn't suppose to know." Edwin said letting go of Casey.

Casey just get a crooked smile, "It's fine that you know, and thanks for caring. Did you want to go to dinner with us tonight and see him? Derek, Sam and Em are coming, I'm sure if he tries anything, you'd want to do something with them, aren't I right?" Casey asked and Edwin nodded his head vigorously. Casey only laughed.

"Case, are you okay now?" Lizzie asked concerned over her older sister.

"Yeah, I'm fine now."Casey said Derek grabbed her hand and walked upstairs. Sam and Emily stayed with Casey and Derek were in Derek's room the whole afternoon waiting for Nora to call when Casey's phone went off.

"Hello?"

"Case."

"Hey Mom, what's up?" Derek looked at her confused and Casey mouthed out 'Mom'

"Hey I was just calling you to tell you Jacob's here now, and you and Liz need to come over now," after Nora said that, her body instantly stiffened. Derek saw this and went over towards her and sat down on the chair and pulled her down to him wrapping her arms around her, saying sweet things in her ear, making Casey calm down.

"Uh, okay mom. Um, Liz and I invited a couple of friends to dinner is that okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine, who are they though?" she asked suspiciously.

"Derek, Edwin, Sam, Edwin, and Emily. Don't worry I told them all to behave. We'll be over in a couple of minutes." Casey said and hung up the phone and began pacing.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. I can't do this. I can't see him again. I'll break down, and he'll see I'm weak. Why did I have to say yes to him in the first-" Casey babbled, till Emily shushed her up.

"Case, don't even trip, we got it all covered. Let's go downstairs and grab Liz and Ed and let's go, I'm getting hungry." Emily said trying to lightened up the mood, which worked.

They walked downstairs to find Edwin and Lizzie watching television.

Casey spoke up saying, "Liz, Ed let's go over to my place, devil's here."

Lizzie ran towards Casey, "Please, don't go back the way you were, because he's around? Promise me? You're finally happy with Derek and I see the way you glow when you're around him. So please Case, don't let Jay mess with your mind. And this time if he touches you, let me kill him," Lizzie said as she watch Casey's eyes tear up.

"I love you baby sis."

"Love you too," Lizzie said as they hugged, while everyone else watched. Derek felt like he just fell in love again. To hear what an impact he's been to Casey made him feel good.

"Come on, let's go," Derek said reached for her hand and pulling her out of the door. "Everything will be fine, okay?"

Casey didn't answer and as they reached her front door, she turn towards him and bent her head forward that way their foreheads were together. "I believe you," she said answering his question from earlier.

Lizzie opened the door, leading everyone in, with Casey and Derek at the end closing the door.

"Mom where are you?" Lizzie asked, not even calling out Jacob's name.

"In the kitchen!" her mom yelled as she and Casey walked the kitchen, while Edwin, Sam, Emily, and Derek sat on the couch in the living room.

"Hey mom," Lizzie said.

"Hey mo..." Casey trailed off as she saw Jacob sitting on a chair near the island looking at her. He looked the same from the last time they saw each other almost two years ago. He still had the spiky reddish hair he had back then. He wore a black un buttoned dress up top and baggy jeans. To her she wanted to leave the house and run away, but she kept strong. Lizzie saw her fidget, and went over to Casey and pulled her.

"Uh mom, we're going to the living room, the others are in there." Lizzie said making an excuse to get away. She watched as Jacob continued to stare at Casey and her outfit.

Casey wore a gray and white v-neck sweater with a hoodie, and a denim mini skirt. Casey saw that he was staring at her tanned legs, and felt disgusted.

"Mom we'll be in the living room. Call when it's time to eat," Casey said as Lizzie and her began to walk away, but her mom stopped them.

"Bring Jacob with you, and introduce him to your friends. Don't be mean to him Case, just because he's your ex," their mom said scolding Casey.

Only if you knew, Casey thought as she looked at Jacob who was now smiling. She glared at him and walked into the living room looking mad. Derek looked at her making a face that meant, 'what's wrong', but the only response he got was her shaking her head. He saw another figure that looked like Lizzie and then another figure. It was a male figure and Edwin, Sam and him stood up, Derek was the same height at him, and Casey thought Derek was much better looking than Jacob was.

Casey stood as far as she could from Jacob, as he tried to walk closer to her.

"Uh... Jacob, this is Emily, Sam, Edwin, and Derek," Casey said pointing at each one "Guys this is Jacob."

"Nice to meet you all," Jacob said nicely, but no one said anything back to him. They all just glared at him. Jacob looked at Casey intently and sat down on the chair, while Casey sat on the floor with Lizzie and Edwin. She sat in between Derek's legs, making Jacob steam. Derek just received a glare when he smirked.

"So you Case's ex?" Derek said.

"Yeah, we were in love," Jacob said, "Weren't we Case?"

Casey just looked away. Derek stood up and walked towards Jacob.

"Let's get this straight alright? Come near her, and you'll be three feet underneath the ground. Touch her, or hurt her, I'll hunt you down. Got it?" Derek said, Jacob just smirked at him. Derek felt like punching him then and there, but he promised Casey, so he didn't.

"Crystal clear," Jacob said.

"Dinner's ready." with that, everyone got up and went into the living room to eat.

Dinner was quiet. All the boys were glaring at Jacob, and Jacob small talked with Nora.

"Nora, is it okay if I speak to Casey alone for a minute?" Jacob asked sweetly.

Casey tensed up and reached for Derek hand underneath the table. Derek glared at Jacob and Jacob smirked.

"Don't go," Derek whispered.

"Sure Jacob. Casey go with Jacob outside to talk."

"Mom, what about my friends?" she tried to make excuses.

"Don't worry, it'll be a minute honey," Nora said as she picked up the dishes.

"Go into the living room right when I leave. Bring Sam with you, and look through the window, don't let it look to noticeable," Casey mumbled as she walked towards the front door. She looked back at Derek and Derek nodded. She opened the front door, and Jacob closed it.

"So how are you Case?"

"Quit with the small talk Jay. What do you want? Better yet, what the hell are you doing here?" Casey said angrily.

"I came to get you back. I miss you," Jacob said walking towards Casey, but Casey pushed him away.

"Don't fucking touch me. You expect me to come back to you? You must be real stupid to think I'd come back to an abusive jerk like you. You see these scars?" Casey asked as she rolled up her top to show scars on her stomach and arms, "You did this to me. You hurt me. you said you love me, but you'd rather hurt me. I don't know why the hell I even stayed with you. It all was just hell." she spat out as she saw anger written over his face.

He pushed her against the wall and pushed his body against hers. "You think you and that pathetic little boyfriend and his friends can take me on? You belong to me and I'll have you, and only me." he started to put his arms on her, but he pushed him off and tried to run into the house, but he pulled her arm, "You know what I'm capable of, and if you don't want you're precious lover to get hurt, I suggest you to tell him to back the fuck off."

What he said made Casey snapped. With all her might, she slapped him. He looked at her, and was about to hit her, when Sam came out and grabbed her, while Derek began punching Jacob.

Sam passed Casey to Emily to get Derek off Jacob. After a couple of more punches to Jacob, Sam successfully got Derek to stop. Jacob stood up and gave death glares to everyone. His eyes landed on Casey.

"This ain't over Case, you better tell your baby boy my message. I'll see you soon honey," he said and with that walked away and into his car speeding down the quiet street. All of them just stood there while Casey fell on her knees crying.

A/N: Well I hope you guys like it. Work on this at three and four in the morning. I couldn't sleep: well kk. R&R please.

Thanks for all the reviews! It means a lot!