I decided the third chapter is for all the ones, who reviewed, pm-d, followed and faved me. I'm honored *bows*, and I hope, you like my upcoming stories just as well. Here we go- second part:

He knocked on Casey's door. She opened with a diary and a pen in her hand, already dressed in her pyjamas.

"Isn't it a bit late to annoy me?" It was hard to focus on her eyes when she looked like this. Really hard.
"Funny," he pulled a face. "Listen, I… uhm wanna go for a run, so can you please have an eye on Marti?"
She frowned. "I know I repeat myself, but isn't it too late for that either?"
He sighed. "Maybe. But I can take care of myself. So would you please do me that favour?"

"Sure."

"I know, you won't do…wait, what?!"

"I said sure," she repeated slowly as if he were half-wit. What he was in her opinion.

"O~kay. Spill, what do you want from me in return?"

She scoffed. "This is nothing I do just for you. I do it for Marti, our little sister."

"Step-sister," he automatically corrected.

"For her, I don't mind." She glared at him. Why didn't he get it? He was the only one who had to have this prefix for her.

He didn't ask further, for he didn't want to know the answers.

"I'll be back in an hour."

It took him exactly 70 minutes.

He realized that as soon as he opened the housedoor and the clock in the living room struck 10pm. Nearly expecting Casey flashing on the lights and turning around in a big chair while stroking a white cat on her lap, he tip-toed in and closed the door behind him.

No lights, no chair, no cat and no Casey. This was even more scaring than his movie-influenced prospect. Quietly, not to wake Marti, he called Casey's name into the dark of the living room. No answer. He let out a breath and walked up the stairs.
This went pretty much without pain. His run didn't exhaust him as much as he hoped. Derek wanted himself crawling on his teeth into his bed and sleeping till college begin or Marti's eighteenth birthday.

Depending on what comes first.

Now he was only slightly sweating thanks to the cold weather and his good condition. He would've never thought that being nearly a pro at hockey would be a curse one day.

But Derek neither thought he would fall that hard for someone like her. To be honest- he had hoped his new step-sister would be some stereotype of a bimbo: dyed- blond, not so clever, giggling at everything he says.
Than he met Casey. His world got shattered along with his nerves. Being around her was like walking on a hot roof-top: painful, but you'll wait till dawn and the heat turns into comfortable warmth so you can just lay down and wait for the stars to come out and shine on you, giving you inner peace and hope for another day.

Derek turned on the cold water. When he had thoughts like this he must be in pretty deep. But he would've needed a bucketful of ice to get rid of this picture inside his head. The picture of him holding her hand while she laid her head on his shoulder and just smiled.
He turned on the warm water again. Since it was no use taking a cold shower, he could just as well enjoy the warm water. Maybe it lulled him into a deep and dreamless sleep.
There would never be a dreamless sleep, you dream every single night, unless you have an illness; the little voice whispering in his head sounded all too familiar. Derek shook his head and stepped out of the bathroom.
He stiffened as he heard his name called calmly out in the dark. Slowly he turned around. She leaned against her doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest.
"You said one hour." It was no accusation, it was just a statement.
He opened his mouth to throw something sarcastic and hurtful at her, but the sheer rise of her hand to silence him did its job. She shook her head and returned to her room, closing the door behind her without any noise.

Derek stood there gaping for some seconds, before he went to his own room. The last moment he held himself back from slamming the door.
Marti mustn't be awakened.

u-_-u

He couldn't sleep. Well, pacing his room wouldn't help, but it was all he could do. If he did anything out of his room she would wake up and ask him why he wasn't in bed.
He sighed heavily and dropped on his bed. He was Derek Venturi, for crying out loud. He could have any woman he wanted by just one snap with his fingers. Whom everybody believed was not a virgin anymore- they didn't ask, he didn't say- 'cause he could charm himself into every girl's pants. But he never brought it this far, telling every girl who wanted, she wasn't worth it. And this was the truth.
For once in his life he wanted more. More than kisses and a hand under her shirt. More than meaningless waste of time.

He wanted her to smile when he told her how beautiful she was;
to laugh, when he told a joke;
to sigh when he kissed her.

Not for one second did he think about what he wanted:
get washed away, when she's kissing him;
get dizzy when she's laughing;
sink into her sparkling eyes, when she's smiling.

Than he decided to do something about this sighing.

u-_-u

That's it for this week;-) Next week, same date as ever (look it up in my profile), you'll have the next part. 'Till then you can count the songs I put into this one. One sunbeam for right guesses, solution in the next AN. Wishes/improvement suggestions also welcomed.
Kisses,Sunny