Disclaimer: Well, Caleb told me that I do own him, so I guess I can actually say in my disclaimer that I own something beside myself! VICTORY!
Chapter 3
It was now a week since Casey and Caleb had arrived to the Professor's house. They still woke up each day wondering where they were, and every time it hit them they just got more and more excited about what was to come. And today was very exciting indeed. Macready announced the night before that this was the day she was picking up the Pevensies and bringing them to the house.
"When is Macready gonna be back already?" Casey desperately wanted to know. She was pacing around in her room.
"She'll be back any minute Case," Caleb told her. He was sitting on the bench in front of the window. "You need to calm down."
"I can't! I'm just feeling nervous and excited and scared and jittery all at the same time!"
A smirky look crossed Caleb's face. "All those feelings are about seeing one specific Pevensie, isn't it?"
Casey froze. "Wha-wha-what do you mean?" He just raised his eyebrows to her and she felt her face growing very red. She scoffed. "Oh shut up. Like you don't think Peter's hot too."
"Don't worry darling, he's all yours." A silence passed and Casey went back to pacing. "Okay, we need to do something to get your mind off this. And I think I exactly know how." He smiled at her, and she immediately knew what he meant.
"Dearest darlingest Momsie and Popsicle," she started.
"My dear Father," he followed.
"There's been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz," they sang together.
"But of course I'll care for Nessa."
"But of course I'll rise above it."
"For I know that's how you'd want me to respond. Yes. There's been some confusion for you see my roommate is…"
"Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe."
"Blonde."
"What is this feeling so sudden and new?"
"I felt the moment I laid eyes on you."
"My pulse is rushing."
"My head is realing."
"My face is flushing."
"What is this feeling? Vervid as a flame. Does it have a name? Yes… Loathing. Unadulterated loathing."
"For your face."
"Your voice."
"Your clothing."
"Let's just say, I loathe it all. Every little trait how ever small makes my very flesh begin to crawl. With simple utter loathing. There's a strange exhilaration. In such total detestation. It's so pure so strong. Though I do admit it came on fast, still I do believe that it can last. And I will be loathing, loathing you my whole life long! What is this feeling so sudden and new? I felt the moment I laid eyes on you. My pulse is rushing. My head is reeling. Oh what is this feeling? Does it have a name? Yes, I'm…loathing. There's a strange exhilaration, in such total detestation. It's so pure so strong. Though I do admit it came on fast still I do believe that it can last. And I will be loathing for-forever, loathing truly deeply loathing you…my whole life long!"
When they finished they exploded in laughter.
"So, did it help?" Caleb asked.
"Yes. I didn't think once about-"
"Casey! Caleb!" they heard Macready call to them. "Come out here!"
"Them," Casey finished.
"You ready?" She just nodded. Before they left the room, she quickly ran into the bathroom to check herself over.
"Children!" Macready called out again.
"Coming! Coming! Coming!" Casey responded.
With a quick glance to each other, they opened the door and went into the foyer.
When they got into the room, they saw the housekeeper standing with four children.
"These are the new evacuees that will be staying with us," Macready introduced. "This is Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. Children, this is Casey and Caleb."
"It's wonderful to meet you," Casey said to them. Her eyes landed on Peter, and she saw he was looking at her too. She looked down, embarrassed.
"You're American?" Susan asked.
"Yes," Caleb answered. "We both are."
"Wow, I've always wanted to go to America," Lucy commented.
"What's so great about America? It's no more special than England," Edmund mumbled.
"Ed, don't be rude," Peter scolded.
"No, it's no problem. When I was in America I always wanted to come here, so…" Casey stated.
"You wanted to come to a country in the middle of a war? That's stupid," Edmund responded.
"Edmund!" Susan yelled at her brother.
"That is enough!" Macready interjected. "Now, if you'll follow me, I'll bring you all to your rooms." When they got to the door, she explained the same thing she explained to Caleb and Casey when they got there. "Now, I'll leave you to settle in." She walked away, leaving the six alone.
"So," Caleb spoke up, breaking the silence, "we'll show you in."
Lucy and Susan followed Casey while Peter and Edmund followed Caleb.
"This is it," Casey announced as she led them in. "I've already taken my bed, but I left the two next t each other so you guys can be closer."
"That's very kind," Susan commented.
The two girls put their bags on their beds and took off their jackets. Susan and Lucy sat on Susan's bed and Casey sat on her own across from them.
"So how are you guys feel-" Casey started to say but was interrupted by a knock on the connecting door. "Come in!" In came Caleb followed by the boys.
"Mind if we join you girls?" he asked.
"No, get out," Casey came back. Caleb rolled his eyes and continued in while Peter and Edmund looked dumbfounded and stayed at the door. When Casey noticed this she said to them, "I was kidding. Come in."
She couldn't help but keep her gaze on Peter as he passed her, and she quickly looked away when he looked to her as he sat beside his sister.
They spent the time together trying to get to know each together a bit better. Well, the two got to know Peter, Susan and Lucy. Edmund found his way over to the window and just sat alone. Casey wanted to say something about it, but when she saw the two older ones exchange glances when he moved she decided to drop it.
"Is something wrong?" Caleb wondered, noticing at one point that the three were laughing.
"Just the way you two act around each other," Peter answered. It was true. Casey and Caleb were not hiding their personalities. They kept making jokes at each other and making funny noises to each other and just doing things to get on each other's nerves. "I've never seen siblings act like that."
"Oh, we're not brother and sister," Casey corrected, taking Caleb's hand.
Peter's face slowly dropped. "You…you two are a…?"
It took them a minute to get what he was implying. But when they did, they burst out laughing.
"No, no. No, no, no," Caleb replied. "We are definitely NOT a couple." No one noticed the relief fall across Peter's face.
"That's pretty much impossible," Casey followed.
"I'm gay."
Susan and Peter sat up a little straighter, and even Edmund turned around.
"What does gay mean?" Lucy questioned.
"Um, it means…" Peter tried to say.
"It's-it's when a boy…" Susan couldn't do it either.
Casey and Caleb looked to each other and they knew it was up to them.
Caleb took a breath and explained, "It means I like boys instead of girls."
"Oh," she just accepted.
"No one's got a problem with that right?" Casey questioned in a harsh tone. "Because if anyone does, they'll have a problem with me; and you do not want that."
"Don't worry. We have no problem," Peter assured her.
"I've just never met anyone…gay before," Susan told them.
"Well, there's a first time for everything," Caleb said.
After dinner that night, they all gathered again in the girls' room and helped get Lucy into bed. They had turned the radio on a while ago to get a little more noise in.
"German aircrafts carried out several on Great Britain last night-" the announcer was saying, but Peter turned it off.
It was quiet until they heard small sniffles coming from Lucy. The older ones turned to her.
"The sheets feel scratchy," she told them.
Peter and Susan walked over to their little sister.
"Wars don't last forever Lucy. We'll be home soon," Susan tried to comfort her.
"Yeah, if home is still there," Edmund spoke up.
"Isn't it time you were in bed?"
"Yes mum!"
"Ed!" Peter scolded. He gave his brother a glare then turned back to Lucy, "You saw outside. This place is huge. We'll be able to do whatever we want. You'll see. Tomorrow will be great. Really."
"All these rooms, it's probably perfect to play hide and go seek. Do you like that game?" Casey came over. Lucy grinned and nodded.
"Us too. It's one of our favorites," Caleb followed.
"How about I promise that we'll play it tomorrow? Just for you."
"I'd love it!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Hello?" Edmund called out. "Doesn't anyone care about what I want to do?"
"Ed, listen to Su. It's time for bed," Peter stated. Edmund just stood his ground. "Now Edmund. Or will I have to get Macready in here?"
"You're not dad. You can't tell me what to do," Edmund mumbled as he walked into his room.
"I suppose we should all get to bed," Caleb suggested.
"That's probably a good idea," Casey agreed.
They all stood up from Lucy's bed.
"Goodnight Lu," Peter said, kissing his sister's forehead.
"Goodnight Peter," Lucy responded groggily. She rolled over, almost asleep already.
Casey walked them to their door.
"Goodnight love," Caleb said to her, hugging her.
"Night," she replied; and he walked into the room.
"You're really good with Lucy," Peter complimented her.
"I baby-sat a lot, so I have a knack when it comes to kids."
"I'm sure that'll come in handy. Maybe you can help us knock some sense into the other one."
"I'm sure it's just going to take some time for him to get adjusted. He'll get better."
He sighed. "I wish it was that easy. Anyway, I'll let you get some sleep. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." They kept eye contact for an extra moment, then he turned and walked into the room, closing the door behind him.
After a beat, Casey turned back around and headed for her own bed. When she did, she saw Susan looking at her with a slight smile.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," Susan answered.
Yes, Caleb and I do just randomly start singing show tunes. Don't judge us we're theatre kids! Anyways, hope you liked this chapter. More is coming. But please please review!
