AN/ So I was just watching Summer School Blues, and I noticed that in 2 Kisses One Party, Sally volunteers Derek to help with the party, and he gets mad, but he helps Casey out that summer without anyone asking him to…and no protest, hmmm…
On with notes about my story… I experienced a huge writers block on this one, but for once, I overcame it and continued to post. Keep the helpful reviews coming (to the people who are actually reviewing) and let me know what you think!
P.S. If you're going to favorite this story, you might as well leave me a comment too…it would make me feel very loved, and keep this story going.
Two months had passed since the last party and the kids were back in school. Derek and Casey were stuck in three classes together, but they seemed to be getting along better. Well only a tiny, tiny bit better, but still, even if it was only a slight change, it was good enough for George and Nora. This week, Casey was VERY excited for the weekend, and Stella Thurston's sweet 16. She had been counting down the days for almost a month, and couldn't wait for an occasion in which she could get dressed up. Of course, all good things come with a price, and Derek was invited too. So that Saturday approached ever so slowly for Casey, and when it arrived she was fully prepared, planned out and ready long before Derek. This time, it was Casey egging him to hurry up.
"Come ON Derek! You're a guy; it shouldn't take you this long. We're supposed to pick up Emily in less than 2 minutes, and I DON'T wanna be late…it'll ruin the entire night!"
"Wait, what did someone say to me once, OH right, I remember…" and then assuming his worst Casey impression he said "Calm down! It's just a party!"
"Urgh! You are so INFURIATING!"
"Oh, you mean…handsome?" he retorted smoothly, stepping out of the bathroom.
"Thank you!" exclaimed Casey, but that relief soon turned to anger as she saw what he was wearing "De-REK! It said semi-formal on your invite! No T-shirts, no sneakers and no jeans!!"
"Ooops, I guess it must've just…slipped my mind. Aww, now I'll just have to change again, won't I?"
"You did this on purpose didn't you? You just HAD to bug me? Really? You're PATHETIC!" with that, she rushed to his room and flung open his closet.
"HEY! Hey, hey, hey, hey! MY closet, MY stuff, DON'T touch!" He exclaimed rushing down the hallway after her.
He was too late. A frustrated Casey was already rummaging through his clothing, and throwing all clothes she deemed unsatisfactory, on the ground.
"And now you're making a mess in my room? Come on, Case…NOT nice!"
"Pfft, you're room is a sty and will always be a sty no matter what. Especially considering the PIG that lives in it." She turned to him "HERE! Wear this, and try not to be a SNAIL too!" She said, throwing a blue button down shirt and black slacks at him.
"Nice one Casey, really clever...a snail. Creative." He said sarcastically as he ushered her out of his room and shut the door.
He was ready in less than 5 minutes, and looked pretty good too. Not that CASEY would ever admit it… though she had to confess, she picked out some pretty good outfits on whim. Even if it was only a shirt and pants.
"Alright, we go to Emily's 10 minutes late and then to the party!"
The group arrived half an hour late and was escorted in by a very harried Mrs. Thurston. The entire backyard and living room had been made into dance floors. Emily and Casey went outside, while Derek went in search of his friends, Sam and Ralph.
"So, I think that I am now COMPLETELY over Derek. That car ride proved it to me." Emily stated.
"Well, that's good, me too. I mean, about Max. I think I'm completely over Max. Derek was right. He was always a jerk."
"Whoa, what was that? Derek was right? And since when do you talk to him about Max anyways?" asked a VERY surprised Emily
" It's not a regular occurrence, believe me. We just talked, once but that's it. I don't have like daily discussions with him about Max."
"Mmhmm, I'm starting to think that you two may actually end up getting along."
"What? Nah…we're still just…just US, Derek and Casey."
"Aww, that sounds cute together."
"Emily! No!" A very surprised, annoyed and worried Casey screeched
"Relax, Casey, I was just joking around. Though, you did get very defensive…" Before Casey could argue again, Emily continued, "in any case, It's good that you're over Max, because he's over there." she gestured to a corner in which Max appeared to be getting awfully cozy with one of the cheerleaders at school.
"Ok, maybe not completely over him…" sighed a sad Casey while looking at the couple.
"Oh, no Casey, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pointed it out… lets dance, think about something else, okay?"
"Umm, yeah sure." The girls proceeded to the dance floor.
Derek had finally found Sam, who said that Ralph was off with his 'date'. They stood by the buffet table until Derek saw a good-looking girl across the room and went over to ask her to dance. The girl turned around, it was Sally. She had come to the party with Ralph. Derek backed away from the room slowly, when he got to the doorway, he turned around and made a run for it. He made to the front porch before he stopped, out of breath. He didn't feel like starting anything with Ralph tonight, and he sure as hell didn't want to talk to Sally. He thought he was over Sally, but seeing her again. It was something he couldn't handle, he was never good at dealing with feelings, and there they were, chasing him. He wanted to leave, now. He made it up the driveway when he remembered…
"Casey."
Instead of just leaving, Derek turned back around and walked to the house. He came up to the house again and there she was... in the bitter cold, sitting on the front porch. He made his way over, and sat down next to her.
"Hey…I was wondering when you'd realize that I was here" she said
"Aww, poor Casey, invisible and not a party girly?" for some reason, Derek didn't get pleasure out of mocking her this time. And Casey wasn't up to retorting.
"No D, not today…"
Derek was surprised, no snippy comeback, nothing. And he didn't even know why he made fun of her in the first place…it wasn't like he wanted to. Great, now he felt like he had to make up for it…
"You cold?" he asked, watching her shivering frame.
"Not really…yeah. You?"
"Not at all actually." He responded, taking a seat next to her. And she believed him. She could feel the heat practically radiating off of him. She subconsciously inched closer.
"H-how the hell can you be so hot?"
"Hehe, I get asked that ALL the time."
"Oh shut up Derek, you know what I mean…"
"No, I don't, I thought you were referring to my dashingly good looks and hot bod."
Casey gave him a look of revulsion, though it was less disgusted than it would usually be. She sighed.
"Well, I'm freezing."
"Well, you should go inside then…"
"I REALLY don't want to."
"Same."
They were left in a comfortable silence, with an occasional shiver from Casey. Derek grew tired of having to put up with her shaking and threw his jacket over her, indeed, freezing shoulders.
"Thanks…" she whispered
"Don't mention it. Really. Like don't mention it, ever. Plus it's annoying sitting next to an extremely shaky person."
"Fine, no one will know that you can be even remotely kind…and 'shaky?' really?" she inquired.
"Do you WANT me to take my jacket back?"
"No." Casey said hurriedly, as she clutched the jacket closer to her, as if someone would come and swipe it at any given moment. At this Derek chuckled, Casey loosened her grip.
"It smells nice." She muttered
"Does it?" asked Derek, completely casually "Because I thought I was a pig…and pigs don't smell nice do they?" he asked as if talking to a five year old.
Casey was surprised; she didn't think he'd heard her. But she recovered quickly and said,
"Yeah, I thought it would smell like that. But it smells like worn leather. I love that smell." She was rambling, again.
"Really? I thought you'd be the type to love the smell of flowers and perfume and gross sweet smelly stuff." He hesitated, "I like the smell of leather too."
They sat again in silence, when Derek remembered why he had come back to the house.
"Hey, wanna go home?" he asked
"Though I would absolutely love that. We can't." Derek gave her a questioning look, forcing her to elaborate, "First of all, we have to wait for Emily, and second…they haven't served cake yet, and it would be rude to leave. They said they'd serve in like 2 more minutes." She finished, checking her watch.
"Who cares about rude?" Derek huffed "Let's go home anyways!"
Casey simply gave him a look and then, in an effort to end his protests, said, (while rolling her eyes) "From what I hear, the cake is delicious…you wouldn't wanna miss out on that, would you?"
"No," sighed Derek, missing her tone "I guess I wouldn't."
"Then we should go in now," she said, "or we might miss the cake."
Derek quickly got up, and rushed to the door. Casey chuckled thinking 'typical Derek,' as she followed him.
Neither realized that Derek had forgotten to take his jacket back.
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AN/ This time I'm seriously not updating if I don't get enough reviews. And now I know what 'enough' is. MORE THAN 4!! (lol) Last time I couldn't help but update, but this time, I'll fight the urge.
Who thought that the writers were using 6 ½ as a way to dissuade us Daseyers?
Although I thought it was cute that Derek used Casey's phrase about the goat. Lol.