Disclaimer: Forgot about this in the last chapter…anyways the word 'disclaimer' should be enough of an explanation.
Chapter 2: Temporarily
"Listen, Casey, about my dad…"
"I know, Derek…no worries." Derek repeatedly thanked God Casey was so understanding.
"He's never even raised a hand before…I'm just…surprised, maybe? I don't know…just…it was unexpected." Casey nodded knowingly as they stepped into a diner. The two sat in a booth and waited until a bouncy blonde came over. Her name tag said "Cindy".
"Hi, my name's Cindy, I'll be taking your order." Casey tried best to not scoff, the girl had immediately shone a bright smile at Derek and hadn't even taken notice to the fact Casey was there.
"Hi, I'll have a cheeseburger with fries and a large chocolate shake. Thanks." The girl jotted it down with her hot pink pen then made her way to bounce off, but before she got far, Derek cleared his throat. She turned around flirtatiously.
"You forgot something." Derek said. The girl sauntered over to him.
"Don't worry," she pulled out a card from her apron, "I always have my number ready for a hot guy like you." She winked, Derek's already planted smirk widened as he watched Casey out of the corner of his eye. She looked like steam would shoot out of her ears at any minute.
"That's very considerate of you," he took the card from on the table then pointed to Casey, "but I was going to say you forgot my girlfriend." Cindy turned around to see Casey smiling tightly through clenched teeth, wriggling her fingers in the air.
"Oh," Cindy gave Casey a dirty look then sighed exasperatedly, "can I take you order?" She spat out.
"Grilled chicken salad, thanks." Casey added the thanks with sarcasm dripping from the words. The girl huffed off.
"Well then…"
"I'm going to the washroom." Casey stood up and left. Cindy saw this and took her advantage.
"So, you got a name?" She asked, trying to be flirtatious.
"Derek Venturi." He stuck out his hand.
"I've heard about you, Hockey God, am I right? Your rep travels far…how did you end up with her?" Derek suppressed a roll of his eyes. Nobody except Marti, Ed, and Liz knew about him and Casey…but since this was a girl who was about as good as a stranger it didn't really matter.
"Yeah, well, she's intelligent…more than I can say about any other girl I've met." Casey stepped out of the washroom to see Cindy flirting with Derek.
Casey swaggered over to Derek, placed her hands on the sides of his face gingerly and kissed him fiercely; she felt him smirk against her lips as his strong arms enveloped her waist. Her arms wrapped around his neck. When they parted they heard Cindy walk off in a huff.
The two stared into each other's eyes as there foreheads lay against one another's. Casey looked into Derek's eyes, they were clouded over. Casey smiled and took her seat in the booth.
Derek cleared his throat then looked at Casey with raised eyebrows. He showed her two fingers then mouthed out "twice?"
"In less than 24 hours, Derek. You should be pleased." She said smirking, he grinned largely and nodded. "Calm down, I didn't say it would continue." He leaned into the seat, crossed her arms in front of his chest and pouted.
"You suck." E resembled a three year old, his boyish features showing through madly. Casey giggled.
"You wish." His expression changed into shock in a millisecond.
"I don't even know how to respond to that…" He said, shaking his head slowly, eyes wide.
Their food came and they ate, talking about any random topic. They paid and continued walking.
"I just don't get it." Casey stated as they sat down on the edge of a small dock; they're feet dangling off the edge and into the river, the water was warm yet cool, immediately the couple relaxed.
"Don't get what?"
"Lizzie and Edwin. And Mom and George on the rocks. It's like, the minute all of my music…minus my dad…comes together it slowly drifts apart. I don't understand life." Derek entwined his fingers with Casey's while making small splashes with his feet.
"Case…everything's going to be fine, Nora and Dad will be fine; maybe you might leave for a couple of days but you'll be back. I know you will. As for Lizzie and Ed…maybe she was trying to make him shut up." The last comment got a chuckle from Casey.
"Stop trying to make me laugh, I'm not done pouting yet." Casey began pouting again as Derek playfully rolled his eyes.
"I love your pout; it's so cute." He pinched her cheek and she pouted more to hide her lips trying to quirk into a smile.
"I'm still not ready to smile." She said in a sing-song voice.
"Good." He took her chin gently and kissed her pout softly.
"Do you really think things will get better?" She looked up sheepishly into his eyes.
"I'm positive." She hugged him tightly and he kissed her temple repeatedly.
"How can you be positive? They've been like this for days…you're not a fortune teller Derek!" She combusted into tears.
"Shh…Casey it's okay." Derek held her tight and soothingly rubbed her back.
"It's not okay, Derek." She whimpered softly against the crook of his neck. "This is what happened with Dad. Now…we never see him." She looked intently into the water.
"Derek, Lizzie doesn't even talk to me anymore, George and Mom is arguing. You and Marti are all I have left…"
"Casey…don't say that. Dad and Nora will be fine. Lizzie and Ed will be…weird…since when do they kiss?" Derek was suddenly hit with realization.
"Like I said, I'm not ready to smile yet…but that will be weird." She said, finally breaking a smile on her tear ridden face.
"That's my Casey!" They got up and walked home, hand in hand.
They stepped into the house and reluctantly let go of each other's hand; Nora walked up to Casey and looked tired.
"Casey, get packed…not everything; we're returning. But your clothes and shoes and what not have to be ready for tomorrow. Got it?" Casey gulped then nodded.
Derek looked at her; "I told you you'd be coming back." Derek nudged her with his elbow. She smiled faintly; sure, her mother said that now...but why were they coming back?
Casey had a feeling it wouldn't be all as simple as Derek had said. Casey had a feeling that she would be muted temporarily…
…at least she hoped it were temporarily.
A/N: Okay, I really enjoy writing this story, and I'm definitely going to continue…please review! And that part about the "you suck" "you wish" was actually from past experience…quite a funny story (family encounters like that always are…) REVIEW PLEASE!!