Sorry about the long wait. I had major writer's block for this story, which I blame on college applications. And since I happened to write this all about an hour after finally finishing them, I really do think that's what was stopping me!
A few things you need to remember:
- From this chapter on (unless I mention otherwise) the story will be in present time, which takes place two years after the prologue.
- Casey and Derek are just under 18 years old. Edwin and Lizzie are 15. Marti is about 8.
Disclaimer: I being a lowly fan, make no claims over LWD or anything else I don't own in this here fan fiction. Things I do own: The Plot. Connor. Dialogue. Michael Seater. His hair. Derek Venturi. His wardrobe. (Did you sense where I trailed off there?)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present Time
"Just go over there and do it!" Emily said encouragingly to Casey as she took a book out of her locker.
Casey glanced longingly at the boy across the hall before turning back to her friend. "But…I'm a girl!"
"Case, we're halfway through senior year. Don't you think it's about time you jump out of that comfort zone feet first? And what about that feminist stuff you're always talking about. Isn't it like encouraging to womankind or whatever to take charge?"
"Just because I believe in feminism doesn't mean that I don't appreciate chivalry. And before you say it, it is not dead. I stand strong by that."
"Alrighty then." Emily said with a chuckle. "But I still think you should just go ask him out. I really think he's interested."
"Really?" Casey stated looking back across the hall. "Maybe I will go talk to— Derek!"
Emily turned around from her locker and looked at her confused. "Derek?! I thought we were talking about Connor?"
"No." Casey scoffed, rolling her eyes as she pointed discreetly at Derek who had made his way to Conner's locker.
"Oh. Well now you really should go talk to him. Before Derek plants any outlandish ideas in his head about you."
Casey moaned, whimpering a little as she gave Emily a helpless look. "Okay. I'm gonna do it."
She took a deep breath, stumbling as she turned to walk towards Connor. As she got closer she could hear Derek talking about what she could only assume were lies about her.
"… But honestly man, she's got a huge—"
"Casey!" Connor stated a grateful smile appearing on his lips. "How are you?"
"Probably much better than you are, well…" she looked Derek up and down disapprovingly. "…Considering. Care to run off Derek? I'm sure there's tons of homework you need to start avoiding."
Derek laughed sarcastically. "You're hilarious Casey. Ever considered being a stand up comedian?" He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. I meant clown."
Connor laughed nervously, as did most people when they were caught in the middle of one of Derek and Casey's many bantering matches. "Casey was there something you needed?"
"Actually, I had something I wanted to ask you. Do you think that maybe you'd…" She trailed off when she noticed that Derek was still standing behind her, listening intently. "Uh, Derek? Do you mind?"
"Oh no not at all." He stated smugly, moving his previously crossed arms to place his hands in his pockets. "Feel free to shut up at any time."
"Derek how about we finish our conversation later?" Connor suggested, desperate for him to leave. He had always been a little nervous around Derek, especially when Casey was around.
"Ok dude." Derek said punching him on the shoulder. "See you at practice."
"Later man." Connor said, letting out the breath he was holding.
"Spacey." Derek said good-naturedly as he walked past her.
"Idiot." She stated giving his retreating form a dirty look, before putting a smile back on her face for Connor.
Smiling back at her, Connor touched her elbow. "So you were saying?"
"Uh, ha, I was just… wondering if maybe you'd want to, I dunno, go out with me… on Friday?"
His face fell, his genuine smile being replaced by a tentative one. "Oh you mean like on a date."
Casey laughed nervously, twirling the hair from her pigtail. "Yeah. I was thinking maybe we could go to the football game, or to the movies or something. Whatever you want."
"Um, Casey, I'm sorry but I don't think so."
Casey froze, her smile turning into an embarrassed grimace. "Oh. Okay. That's um, sure, I'll just see you tomorrow than." She turned around, nearly tripping as she tried to walk back to Emily. She put her hand on her forehead, attempting to shield her reddening face from the rest of the hallways occupants.
"What happened?" Emily asked putting her arm around Casey as she fell into step with her.
"He said no so now I have to go cower in the girl's restroom for all eternity."
"Oh Casey I'm sorry. After I talked to him yesterday I was so sure he liked you! I did my research and everything." Casey suddenly froze in the middle of the hall, Emily still walking a few steps before she stopped and looked back at her confused. "What?"
"Oh I'm sure he did like me yesterday."
"Huh?"
"He may even have liked me 10 minutes ago." She stomped past her friend, angrily muttering her stepbrother's name under her breath.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walking in the house, Casey saw Derek sitting alone in the living room watching TV from his chair. Narrowing her eyes at him she slammed the front door. When he still didn't pay her any attention, she threw her books onto the ground and put her hands on her hips.
"Derek!"
"I'm deaf to all noise made by people with the initials CM," he stated, his eyes remaining focused on the hockey game.
Growing increasingly frustrated, she stomped over to him, pounding her left foot down on the footrest of his chair, causing it to thrust him forward onto the ground.
"What the hell Casey?!" He yelled pushing himself up to stand in front of her.
"'What the hell?!' is right Derek? What's your damage?"
"My damage? I'm not the one who—"
"Yes your damage." She growled, cutting him off. "What is with your obsessive involvement in my love life? Do you actually plan your days around messing it up or is it just a happy accident on your part?"
"Awww. What's the matter? Connor turn you down? Poor baby." Derek responded with faux compassion, patting her on the head as he sat back down. "Maybe it was your hair. It's looking a little ratty today."
"Deny all you want but the next time you get the urge to lie to a guy just so he won't go out with me, remember that I have a lot of ammunition against you."
His head jerked towards her, his eyes flashing with the hurt that Casey knew only she could recognize. "That's low even for me, Case. I didn't do anything. If Connor turned you down its cause you're a freak. It has nothing to do with me." He turned his attention back to the TV, the breezy tone returning to his voice as he waved her off. "Now shoo."
Casey sighed when she realized he was telling the truth, now feeling more confused than ever about Connor. "He didn't turn me down. He just… you know he—"
"Laughed in your face?" Derek suggested. Casey grunted disapprovingly, shooting him a dirty look.
"OK. How about rejected you?"
She growled one last time, throwing a pillow from the couch at him before turning to the stair landing.
"Charming Casey." He stated moving to follow her up. "I'm really very shocked he said no."
She cast him a glare over her shoulder as she ascended the stairs, Derek only two steps behind her.
He smirked, her anger only egging him on. "Would you have preferred he said hell no?"
Casey slammed her bedroom door in his face, locking it before throwing herself down onto her bed.
The wooden object didn't stop Derek as continued shouting out insults. "What about 'Not if you were the last woman on earth.' I think that's appropriate."
Grabbing a pillow, she let out a muffled scream into it. Derek heard and chuckled, talking under his breath as he started back down the stairs.
"And I didn't even break a sweat."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clunk! Scrape.
Edwin exchanged a knowing look with Lizzie at the sound. She rolled her eyes, glancing from Derek, who was smugly sipping his water, to her sister, taking her anger out on her vegetables and the diner plate.
Clunk! Scrape
After the tenth or so stabbing of a fork into mashed potatoes, Nora put down her own silverware and turned to her daughter.
"Something bothering you honey?"
Casey looked up, fixing Derek was a scathing glare, as she once again stabbed at her food.
"Why don't you ask dickhead over there?" she said motioning across the table with a tilt of her head.
"Casey! Watch your mouth!" Nora exclaimed as her husband said, "Derek, what did you do?"
"Thanks a lot, bitch." Derek bemoaned, leaning back in his chair.
"Derek! You keep up with the language and the pranks, I swear you won't see the next hockey season."
"She just called me a dickhead!"
"And her language at the table will not go unpunished either." Nora said looking disapprovingly at her daughter.
"What's a dick?" Marti asked innocently.
Edwin burst out laughing as Lizzie choked on her drink, coughing to clear her throat.
"Lizzie. Edwin. Take your sister and go do the dishes." George stated rubbing tiredly at his eyes. The youngest three members of the family cleared the room, closing the kitchen doors behind them. George opened his eyes looking back and forth between Casey and Derek, who were involved in a deadly looking staring match. "It's been nearly two years. Your incessant quarreling is getting old."
"Dad, she's just pissed because a guy turned her down and she's taking it out on me. I did nothing."
"If you did nothing then what were you talking about when I walked up to you guys in the hall today?" Casey asked accusingly.
"I was telling him about an engine on this wicked new car a guy on the team just got."
"Yeah okay." She responded disbelievingly, before calling him a choice name under her breath.
"Casey McDonald." Nora warned.
"I'm sorry mom but I can't take it anymore. He intentionally ruined my chances with a guy!"
"Ugh!" Derek groaned throwing down his fork. "How many times do I have to say it?! I though you got it this afternoon. I didn't say anything to Connor! If he said no it cause he's not interested. And I really don't blame him."
"Derek, even if you didn't say anything to this boy you're still not in the clear." Nora stated gently. "Your comments are completely unnecessary and just make matters worse."
"Nora's right, Derek." George added. "Apologize."
He scoffed, sounding completely unapologetic when he opened his mouth. "Fine. I'm sorry Casey."
"You should be."
George turned his attention to Casey. "You need to apologize too."
"For what?!"
Nora sighed putting her hand on Casey's. "Casey I'm sorry that you were hurt, but I believe Derek this time when he says he didn't do anything. Now please say you're sorry."
Casey turned to Derek, her lip curling in disgust. "I'm sorry."
\------------------------/
"They seem really upset over this. It's not even a big deal." Edwin whispered looking down at Lizzie, who, like him, had her ear pressed against the kitchen door.
"Who are you kidding?! Everything they fight about is always about something more than what it seems."
They turned their attention back to the muffled voices coming from the dining room in time to here Casey mutter a sarcastic apology.
George let out a deep sigh. "Too many times we've let you guys off and nothing changes, so I think it would be best if you both are grounded for a few days."
Derek and Casey both began protesting loudly.
"Oh great, thanks Dad!" Edwin whispered sarcastically. "Confine them both to the house so we all want to kill ourselves."
"Hey now! Try to look on the bright side. They might snap and finally kill each other." Lizzie responded.
Edwin looked down at her, his lip curling into an amused smile. She smiled back before turning back to the door a lock of her hair falling from behind her ear. He resisted the urge to brush it off her face, instead forcing his hand into his pocket, turning to look through the tiny crack between the doors again.
Lizzie glanced up at him, her brow furrowing. "Are you okay?"
"I'm great. Fine. Why do you ask?"
"Well if you keep biting your lip like that you're gonna draw blood." She brought her hand up to his chin, her fingers gently grazing it. "And you know nurse Lizzie does everything except blood."
Edwin groaned inwardly as the image of her in a short, tight nurse's uniform flashed through his mind. Sometimes he found her innocence at seemingly obvious innuendo amusing, but most of the time he hated how much her words teased him.
"What are you guys doing?!" Marti yelled as she came in through the backdoor.
They both shot up from their kneeling positions and jumped away from each other and the door.
"Marti!" Lizzie exclaimed sounding nervous. "I though we told you to go play in the backyard?"
"It's all muddy outside."
"Didn't you say you loved dirt?" She questioned.
"Not when it's mixed with water! Get with the program Liz!" Marti exclaimed.
"Yeah Liz!" Edwin stated, shoving her playfully. "Jeez!"
Lizzie scoffed, shoving him back as she glared at him, a flirtatious grin on her lips.
"CAN WE COME OUT NOW PLEASE?" Marti yelled to the door.
"Yes you may," Nora responded.
Peering out into the dining room after Marti, Edwin and Lizzie noticed their older siblings missing from the table. Turning their attention back to each other, they exchanged a knowing glance.
"Research duty tonight?"
"My room, 10 sharp." Edwin stated, slinking through the halfway open gliding doors and up the stairs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you think?! Tell me what you hate, what you love, what you'd like to see and what you don't want to see. I'll take it all into consideration.
Reviews are encouragement! So on with it.