Chapter 2
I slowly opened my eyes, I had just had the weirdest dream. I had been in the prince, with Casey and we were about to smash into a tree. I stretched my arms out and looked around my room. Except it wasn't my room. I shot up out of bed quickly, I was in Casey's room. But it didn't look like Casey's room. All my stuff was sprawled out, clothes on the floor, CD's scattered, and the stench of hockey gear filled my nostrils.
"What the...?" I rubbed my head. "What the hell is this?" I rubbed my eyes, I must have had quite a bit to drink last night or something. I got up and walked downstairs. Something felt off. Edwin must have moved all my stuff into Casey's room last night, a feeble attempt at a prank.
"Morning Derek" My dad sat at the table drinking coffee and reading the paper.
"Morning Dad." I went and opened the fridge, take out boxes were stacked all on the shelf. "Where's all of Casey's probiotic, bird seed food?" I moved the boxes around. "She's going to have a fit when she realizes it was all eaten... I mean who would want to eat that stuff though?"
"Casey?" George looked up. "Derek what are you talking about?" He put the paper down as he turned his head to look at me a bit.
"Uh, yea? Casey McDonald, keener, straight-a, royal pain in my ass?" I shut the fridge door. "She's been the bane of my existence for the last four years?"
"What are you talking about? Nora, Casey and Lizzie haven't been around for about three years now..." George looked out the window. "Are you alright Derek? Did you have a fall at work or something last night at work?" He stood up and felt my forehead.
"What the hell do you mean that Space-Case isn't here?" I almost dropped the milk in my hand. "What are you and Edwin up too? Did I have a little bit too much to drink at the party last night?" I looked around the kitchen. "How much did Casey pay you to do this?" The kitchen looked different. There were dirty dishes piled in the sink. There were only four chairs at the table, and Nora's usual bouquet of flowers on the table were missing. "And what do you mean work?" I looked around the room some more. The living room was disorderly and dysfunctional. I could tell that it hadn't been cleaned for some time. I also noticed that all of Simons toys weren't laying around like usual.
"You know that the marriage between Nora and I didn't work out." George picked up his bowl. "You're starting to concern me Derek." He looked down at his watch. "I'm late for a case and I don't have time for your childish antics." He grabbed his suitcase and walked out the door. He looked sad, and he looked aged. I ran over to the calendar to check the date. It was June 10, a week before that I could remember.
"EDWIN!" I yelled up the stairs. I heard a scamper come from up the stairs, and feet proceeded to trample down. Edwin came down, and looked completely different. His hair was scraggly and greasy, and he was overweight.
"Ed, what happened to you?" I exclaimed. "You look a lot bi- I mean different than I remember you being..." I sat down in my recliner.
"You just saw me last night!" He exclaimed. "Dude, you look a little pale.." He ran into the kitchen and I heard water running. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?" He came running back into the room carrying a glass of water. At least Edwin still treated me with respect in what was turning out to be a crazy dream.
"Work?" I chugged the water back. "I don't even have a job, I mean we just got out of Queens."
"Queens?" Edwin laughed. "What are you on D? You barely graduated high school, let alone actually applying to university." he chuckled to himself. "What kind of prank are you trying to pull this time?" He looked at me. "And who is this 'we' you're talking about?"
"Casey and I?" I looked at him. "Ed now you can drop this whole charade you have going here. I don't know what Casey paid you to be like this, but you have to stop. You're wigging me out." I ran to the closet. "Now tell me where is Simon's jolly jumper, and fire truck" I rifled through the jackets, I couldn't find any of it.
"Simon?" Edwin raised an eyebrow. "D, I have no idea what you're talking about." He ran a hand through his hair. I paced around the room. "Did you hit your head or something last night?"
"I think I did more than just hit my head..." I mumbled. "You need to tell me everything about myself from the last four years."
"What's in it for me?" Edwin cocked his head and stuck out his hand.
"Are you serious?" I growled. He just gestured his hand towards me.
"Hey, I man needs some money to take some babes out on a date."
"Good luck getting any babes with that hair." I reached into my wallet and pulled out a ten. Some things really didn't change at all.
I splashed my face with cold water multiple times, still mystified at the turn of events. As I turned the water off I heard footsteps going through my 'room' and was automatically on alert. I grabbed the scrub brush from the bathtub and slowly pushed open the door. I saw a figure moving towards the bed, and I pushed open the bathroom door.
"Who are you?!"I exclaimed. A tall, dark and handsome young man turned around and flinched as I swung the scrub brush at him.
"Casey!" he exclaimed. "You scared the living crap out of me! What are you doing lurking around like that?" he yelped. "What is that?" He pointed at the brush. "What were you going to scrub me to death or something?" He laughed. He took a step towards me arms outreached.
"Who are you?" I said again, as I put the scrub brush down.
"Case?" He looked me up and down. "It's me, Jeremy? You know your boyfriend?" He put his hand through his hair. "Wow, your mom wasn't kidding when she phoned me and said that you were acting weird." He took another step towards me, and I proceeded to take another step back. There was something off about him. "Are you feeling alright, was it the Chinese food we had last night?"
"I'm perfectly fine!" I laughed as I threw the scrub brush aside. I had to pretend like I had some idea on what was happening. "I was totally just kidding back there. Of course I know who you are." I punched him in the shoulder. "Jared, how could I forget!"
"Jeremy." He said.
"Right, again, another joke. I'm really on a roll today." I fake laughed. Jeremy looked at the bags that were packed on the ground.
"What are all of those Case?" He pointed at the bags. I turned around to see them. The previous night I had stayed up all night booking last minute flights to head back to London. I needed to find out what exactly was happening.
"Well, I just felt like it was time to go see my mom. I got a real urge for some family time!" I exclaimed.
"You're going to see your mom..." Jeremy trailed off. "The one person that you almost complain about most in the world. You're going to the one place that you swore you would never go back to. You even went as far as to tell me on our first date that you would rather be eaten by sharks than to ever go back to Canada."
"Uh, yup that sounds about right." I needed this guy to leave pronto. "I mean my grandfather died and I really should go pay my respects."
"Case, you said your grandfather died when you were eleven." I cringed. How much did I share with this guy?
"I'm just going alright!?"" I exclaimed. "I just need to go take care of some... things.." I breathed out.
"Is this one of those 'soul searching' phases your going through?" he put his hands in his pockets.
"Yes, let's call it that." I looked at my watch, it was time for me to leave for the airport. "Now if you really don't mind, I need to get going to the airport. I turned him around and pushed him towards the door. "Thanks for stopping by, I'm sure I'll call you when I get back." The guy sure didn't get the hint quick.
"wait, wait, wait." He stopped in the door frame. "Is this to do with us?" He leaned on the door frame. "I need a kiss at least so I know that were all good." He smirked.
I cringed at the thought. I had never been the type that was good with spontaneous kissing. I believed that it was something special, saved for those who I had actual feelings for. I grabbed my bag and quickly pecked him on the cheek.
"There's more of those when I get back." I ducked under his arm and ran down the stairs.
"Casey!" I heard my name as I ran out the doors.
I ran my hands through my hair as I sat in my recliner. I felt like I was going to pass out. Derek Venturi only felt like this in drastic times.
"So let's go over this one more time." I stared at Edwin. "I work at Smelly Nelly's full time, I don't have a hockey scholarship to Queens, Dad and Nora broke up barely a year after the wedding, Simon doesn't exist, Casey lives with her Dad." Edwin nodded his head.
"That about sums you up in one sentence." He smirked.
"I'm a dead beat!" I exclaimed.
"Well that's a little bit drastic." Edwin patted my shoulder.
"I work at Smelly Nelly's full time!" I put my head in my hands.
"Alright, yea dead beat is the word I would use." I glared up at Edwin. "I mean that in a loving brotherly way."
"Just get out!" I growled as I pointed at the door. Something had gone terribly wrong. A day ago I had been headed to a party with Casey, and now I lived in a Casey free- world. I let that sink in for a minute. Life without Casey. It had a nice ring to it. No more shrieks, no more girly products taking up the prime space in the bathroom, no more feeling inadequate. I got up quickly with a new spring in my step, until I heard a knock on the door. I went over and opened it.
"De-rek!"
I knew it was too good to be true.
