Chapter Three
(Casey's POV)
I know that telling Derek what I was up to, may have seemed like poor judgement on my part. After all, it was Derek. But for some reason, I had to. All because of that damn paper. What had I been thinking? Maybe I should explain. The Saturday that I had gone in to sign the papers stating my three-month contract, everything had gone smoothly. Until I got to that pesky section. EMERGENCY CONTACTS: DEREK VENTURI (step-brother). It was the only logical thing I could come up with. I had lied to my parents about my job. I couldn't call them if something happened. Not that I was anticipating what was to come, but I knew for some reason that if I needed someone, it could be Derek. Yes, he was a total jerk most of the time, but I knew that deep down he didn't hate me as much as he pretends to. Just like I don't hate him. But he hides it better I think.
A few weeks after I started working at the pub, Jake and I started dating. I didn't tell my family about him either. But this time I didn't even tell Derek. Maybe I should have...
JULY 17th
I had been working for almost four weeks. I had just had my eighteenth birthday and I was thrilled. My family had decided to stay home this summer, so I had been working five nights a week and one Saturday a month. I worked from 6-12pm every night. For some reason, my parents weren't suspicious. I think they were just glad that I could be home with the kids during the day if they needed me to, which, thankfully wasn't often. Lizzie and Edwin were going to day camp all summer, and Marti had
daycare. I slept in late most days, barely waking up before Derek. We still weren't really friends, of course, but I had started to enjoy his company slightly. I think it was mostly because I only saw him 5-6 hours a day. But that night, it changed my life. Well this hadn't been the real turning point, I guess. But it was the day that I realized how much I had let my life change in such a short amount of time.
Jake and I had been fighting quite a bit lately. He was an extremely jealous boyfriend. Any time I served guys drinks, he would watch me. He would get angry and tell me to quit flirting. I honestly didn't think I was doing anything but being friendly. But I decided that I would be careful anyhow. That night, though, I was exhausted. I had been on my feet all night long without a break. When he came over to start yelling at me, just as I sat down on an old grey couch in the corner of the pub, I stood up. I had had enough. We were alone that night, Johnny had left me to lock up, and Jake was supposed to give me a ride home. - He did this every night, he said he didn't want me riding the bus. I had found a route near my house, and that was how I got to work to start my shift. - When he accused me of flirting AGAIN I snapped. Suddenly we were both yelling and screaming at each other. It started to remind me of the fights Derek and I had until recently. Suddenly, I had found myself up against the wall, he was still in my face, using a tone that was totally unnecessary. I pushed him back to get away from his anger. His hand grabbed my arm in an iron grip, he pulled me back so hard that I slammed against the wall. I hit my head. I gasped out from pain, and having the wind knocked out of me. He was gripping my arm so tightly it started to tingle. Before he realized what I was doing, I slapped him across the face with my free hand. Maybe that wasn't the smartest idea, but I had to get away. He was stunned enough that his hand loosened. I wrenched out of his grip. I told him to
get out, I would ride the bus. Because I sure as hell wasn't going anywhere with him. Finally he left me alone. When I heard his motorcycle pull out, I sat down on the couch and cried. I knew the bus had left already. I was going to have to walk home. My parents were going to kill me. I controlled myself long enough to lock up; I walked out the door, I hated the idea of walking home in the middle of the night, but I was so angry that I didn't care that night. Left alone with my thoughts, I walked quickly. I made it home in forty-five minutes. It was 1:30am when I walked into my house. I finally trudged up the stairs. I threw myself onto my bed after changing into a tank-top and shorts before crying myself to sleep. I hadn't even bothered to pull the covers up.
The next day was Friday. I slept even later than usual. Derek was up, earlier than I was, seeing that I was sleeping at 1pm. I had slept for almost twelve hours. I still had my face in my pillow when Derek came in my room to make sure I was alive. I NEVER slept in this long no matter what.
"Casey? Casey, wake up." Derek was shaking my shoulder. And it hurt.
"OW! What the hell, Derek? Way to wake someone up!"
I looked at his face. He seemed confused as to why I was glaring at him. Then the entire night before came flooding back to me. I looked down at my arm. "SHIT!" I sat up. There was a bruise covering my arm the shape of Jake's hand.
Derek was still sitting on the side of my bed. He looked completely floored. I, however, had plenty to say. Just not to him. I was pissed. Jake was going to get an earful.
I looked at Derek, who still hadn't said anything. He was staring at the bruise. Not that I could blame him. It was really ugly looking.
Finally, I spoke. "Derek, I'm up. Can you get out now!" I couldn't keep the fury out of my voice. I wasn't mad at him. But I needed to make a phone call. I wanted to scream at my boyfriend.
That was enough for him to come out of his silence. When he spoke, his voice was low and scary. He was seriously pissed. I just wasn't sure why... "CASEY, HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT?"
I don't know what came over me at that moment, all I know is that I wanted to handle it myself. I didn't want his help. Not with this. I was already humiliated. I was going to lie my ass off. I took a deep breath before speaking. I wanted this to sound believable.
"Derek, I know what you're thinking... this was an accident-"
"Casey! I know an accident when I see one. You ARE prone to them... But THAT doesn't look like an accident!" He spat out the last sentence. Clearly disgusted. I had to think of a good explanation, fast. His words replayed in my head. Then I had an idea.
"It was an accident," I insisted. "I was cleaning in the back, and a bucket of water got spilled. The guy that was with me saw me about to slip when he grabbed my arm. It hurts like hell, but I would rather have a bruise that a cracked skull and be in the hospital! So just back off, okay? I'm fine."
He obviously didn't believe me, but I wasn't going to tell him otherwise. He looked resigned, saying, "Are you sure you're okay?" He reached out and gently touched the bruise. I couldn't help it. I flinched. He saw my face, Slowly pulling me off the bed, out of my room, and downstairs into the kitchen. He opened the freezer, took out an ice pack, wrapped it in a towel and put it on my arm. I shivered.
He finally looked at me again. "You and I both know that I don't believe that fake story. I get that you don't want to tell me, but I'm here if you need me. Just ask."
I looked down at the counter. This was so embarrassing. How could I tell him my secret boyfriend is physchotic..."Thanks". I really did appreciate him dropping it. It's not like him to leave something alone, or to be nice enough to offer to help.
"Okay. Leave it there awhile", he motioned to the ice pack. "And eat something before you pass out." He walked out of the kitchen to watch TV in the family room. I heard the TV turn on, groaning quietly,"Damn you Jake!" I ate a bowl a cereal, then went upstairs to take a shower. As I washed my hair, I felt the knot on the back of my head. This day was just starting and is already sucked. And it was about to get worse. Getting out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my body to blow dry my hair. After I did that, I used a smaller mirror to try to see the knot. I gasped. My back was bruised from being harshly slammed against the wall. GREAT! That was sarcasm. I was so mad. I got dressed quickly, stomping to my room, I slammed my door and locked it. I was not going to be interrupted during this phone call. I scrolled to Jake's number. I practically growled at the sight of his name. I hit the send button.
The phone rang until I heard his voicemail. I was going to hang up, but decided that I would leave a message. Then I could say my piece and not have to hear his voice. I took a breath and started venting: "Jake! You IDIOT! All of this because you thought I was FLIRTING? And I wasn't even. I was barely being nice! And now I have a huge bruise on my arm you JACKASS! And my back is blue and purple! DOn't EVEN think about picking me up tonight. I don't want to see you. AT ALL!" I slammed my phone closed, and threw it across the room. I started crying again. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I was furious, true. But I wasn't going to break up with him. At least not if he apologized.
Monday I answered the phone when Jake called. He had left six messages since Saturday. I had been ignoring him. I was so angry. I know I should have broken up with him then, but I couldn't. Somehow, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. He wasn't always like that. He treated me like a princess when we weren't fighting, and not like the sarcastic way Derek called me PRINCESS like I was stuck up. He apologized. He asked me if next Sunday he could take me out to dinner at a nice place. I said yes. I had been wary all week long, but he hadn't even been acting jealous lately. I was being careful not to tick him off, and there had been no more incidents...
Other than the fight that we had, and the petty arguments which he started by accusing me of being a flirt, life was pretty good. I loved my job, I got friendly with the usuals - not too friendly. Everyone knew that I was Jake's girl. I liked it that way. I had stopped trying to find myself; I got lost in him. It was a bad thing, I know that now. I had stopped questioning things that I wouldn't have hesitated to ask before. I was living in the
moment, and I was happy, superficially anyhow. When I was at the pub, I didn't have to think about the future, but when it smacked me in the face, I couldn't run anymore, I hid. I closed myself off from my family. Not that it was hard. I was never home when they were. The only person who was constantly in my space was Derek. And sometimes his observations about me hit a little bit too close to home. How he could tell, I didn't understand then. I didn't realize that he could see me for who I really was, and that he actually liked me. The real me, not who I pretended to be under the facade of false perfection, and he certainly didn't see me as Jake's girl. He still didn't know about him. I mean, he probably could have guessed, but he never told me. At least not then.
That Sunday, I had gotten all dressed up for my "apology dinner". My dress was turquois, making my eyes sparkle. I had left my hair down, but it was slightly curled. I had heels and a purse to match my dress. I was wearing the new leather jacket that I had bought using my first paycheck. It might have been summer, but the nights were cool, and I wanted to be comfortable. Jake picked me up at the corner by my house. His friend Jeff, that also worked at the pub, had let us borrow his blue mazda for the night. I was grateful. I was in a dress, after all. Jake drove me about half an hour past the pub to a place called The Blue Room. We had a wonderful time. We laughed so hard. He was good at getting me to laugh. I still don't like to admit it, but he was also good at convincing me to do things, things that. if given the chance to think about it, I never would have went along with. But being with him was like being in a whirlwind. barely time to duck and cover, much less strategize on how to escape it. So when he asked me to go back to his place after dinner, to "see his apartment", I said yes without hesitation. Not even thinking about the consequences of being alone with him or getting caught
by my parents. I had been lying to them for two months straight. They still hadn't noticed anything amiss. But as I said, I really only saw them one day a week. That was Sunday. But that night, they had a dinner party for work to go to. Derek was on a date, and Lizzie and Edwin were old enough to watch themselves and Marti until we got home.
When we arrived at his place, he poured some wine for us to drink. It was a cozy place for a bachelor pad, I guess. It had wood floors, two dark red couches, a nice kitchen, and a nice sized bedroom for a one room apartment. Yes, I know what you're thinking. I did see his bedroom. We actually spent the rest of our evening in there. Okay, no beating around the bush. I slept with him that night. We had sex. It actually wasn't my first time, my first had been Max, sadly. Believe me when I tell you that, that night, I was not pressured in the slightest. I miht have even initiated it, not that he wouldn't have at some point, but I had drank two glasses of wine since we had gotten there, and the two at the restaraunt. So, needless to say, I was at least a little drunk. But it wasn't until months later that I would regret it.
When Jake finally drove me home - I was too drunk to ride the bus - he had to take me up the driveway. He practically carried me. Derek answered the door when he knocked on the door. Had gotten home an hour ago, and was about to call my cell phone when we appeared at the door. He looked at me, horrified. I was still leaning heavily on Jake, but laughed when I saw his face. I was too drunk to comprehend the look that Derek was giving my boyfriend. So in my inebriated state, I did the unthinkable. I turned to Jake and kissed him full on the lips. Derek told me later that it seemed like he hadn't really kissed me back to begin with, mostly because he had been glaring at him, but then he kissed me until I couldn't breathe. He was trying to make a point, I
guess. After all, Derek didn't get that Jake thought I belonged to him. I did too at that point. It wasn't one of my finest moments. Anyways, Jake had finally untangled me and handed me off to Derek. I assume this was because he just didn't want to deal with "drunk Casey". It would have been inconvenient. For him.
Derek finally got me into the house to sit me on the couch. He went into the kitchen to make me some coffee before returning to sit next to me on the couch. I had moved to the side by his chair, for some reason that had always been my favorite seat. My head was on the armrest, hair in my face. I felt my hair being pushed off of my forehead. I looked up to see Derek's eyes on me, watching my face.
"Space-Case?"
"Hmmm..?" I had been surprised at his gentle tone. I find it sweet now that I realize how much he took advantage of this situation. NO! NOT LIKE THAT! He knew that I wasn't thinking straight, and if he was going to spend the night trying to get me "un-drunk" as he so eloquently put it, he wanted to know what was going on with me.
"Case? Who was that guy that brought you home?"
"Jake... Boyfriend.." I was too tired to make sentences.
"Do you like him?" What he really wanted to know was if he had been the one to leave that bruise. But he couldn't just ask me because he knew I would deny it. He was too sneaky.
I squinted at him trying to figure out how to answer such a complex question. "Sometimes."
"How'd you get so drunk?" He was smirking at me. I was not amused.
I groaned. Rubbing my forehead, I mumbled, "Too much wine".
He chuckled. He went to get the coffee. Making me drink two cups, black...EEWW! The pried me off the couch to walk me up to my room. He went through my dresser for my pajamas. I had taken off my leather jacket and put it over the chair. He handed the pajamas, and I looked at him confused.
"You can't sleep in that dress, Case." He was right, but...
"I can't get it off", I was drunk and tired and I was unexplainably sad all the sudden. I sat on my bed. My words had come out as a whisper before I started to cry. I heard him trying to contain his laughter. I looked so pitiful, he couldn't help it.
"It's n-not funny." He stopped laughing, finally.
"Stand up."
"What?" I was not understanding anything at that point in time.
"I'm pretty sure I know how to get a dress off...you can ask around if you want." He wiggled his eyebrows. Then I understood. I burst out laughing. That's what he had been trying to get me to do.
"That's okay. If you just unzip me I can get it from there." As an afterthought I said, "And NO funny stuff!" He laughed again. I had tried to sound firm, but I had giggled at the end. But as he
unzipped my dress we both were serious. Me because I was trying to ignore the tingles of his fingers running up and down my bare back, and he... WAIT what was he doing?
"Derek?" My voice was shaky. I don't know why I was nervous. But I couldn't turn around to look at him. His hands were still on me, sending shivers up my spine. And THEN I remembered. I had opened my mouth prepared for another argument, but he just whispered in my ear,"What happened to you, Case?" Then he walked out of my room, shutting the door behind him. I collapsed onto the floor still in my dress. How could I be so stupid. I forgot about those bruises. The one on my arm had almost gone away, and I had covered it with make-up. The ones on my back... they were fading but I didn't cover them up, because no one could see them. And I had forgotten...okay, so not exactly forgotten. But I was in denial.
