Enjoy!

x—x

When Casey and Derek walked into their home on Friday afternoon from school, they immediately knew that something was wrong. George and Nora were both waiting by the door, arms crossed.

Both Casey and Derek's eyes went from them, to a pile of luggage and suitcases in the living room, to Edwin who was dragging a suitcase to the pile. He dropped it there, and headed back upstairs. Then their eyes returned to their parents.

"What's going on?" Casey asked.

"We." George said. "Are all going on a trip."

"A trip?" Casey and Derek asked at the same time.

"Yes." Nora nodded. "A trip."

"What kind of trip? Not the, 'Rover is just going to go live on a farm, where he can be happy with all the other animals', kind of trip, is it?" Derek asked.

Casey rolled her eyes, but inside found the humor slightly comforting. Seeing as the first thing that came to mind when they had said trip, was a certain visit with a Madame Rhiannon. The incident had been almost three weeks ago, and she had managed to push it aside, but the mentioning of a trip brought it clear to mind. A journey the two of you will embark on soon. Together. Casey quickly glanced at Derek, who was still at her side. She couldn't tell if he was thinking the same thing.

"Of course not Derek." Nora said. "We just felt like, since you all are now officially on your Spring Break, we should all take a little vacation."

"Nothing big. A small little town a couple hours from here. Close enough to drive to." George said.

"And it would be a perfect time for us all to be together. Not to mention, do some "Get along" work on the two of you." Nora said.

Derek groaned. "I knew it was too good to be true."

George sighed. "Go pack."

"Wait, we're leaving now?" Casey asked.

"Pretty much." Nora said.

"Dur, Miss Grade Grubber." Derek said sarcastically.

"You-"

"Don't even respond. Go pack." Nora said.

"But-"

"Go. Pack." Nora pointed up the stairs.

Glaring at Derek, Casey began toward the stairs. Derek followed.

In her room, Casey was putting clothes into a bag when the door opened. It was Derek.

"Get out." She said first. She didn't feel like dealing with Derek.

"Oh, what? Is Casey worried about going on a journey with me?"

So he was thinking about it.

"You must be worried too, if you thought enough about it to bring it up." Casey said.

"If it's going to make you feel better, then go ahead and believe that." Derek said.

"What do you care what I feel?" Casey asked.

Realizing what he had said, Derek corrected himself. "I don't."

"Great. Now are we done? Good. Get out." Casey said again.

"Poor dad and Nora." Derek said, shaking his head as he walked to the door. "'Get Along Work.' They don't know what they're getting themselves in to."

Derek glanced at Casey once more, who was glaring at him, before leaving the room.

Casey shook her head and sighed.

She continued packing and once she had managed to fit everything she needed into one suitcase and a Jansport backpack, she dragged it all downstairs.

"Why is this so short notice, anyway?" Derek was asking just as she came downstairs.

"Less time for you to complain and protest." George shrugged.

Derek smirked. "Smart cookie, dad."

"Are there cookies?" Marti spoke up, smiling.

"Well, actually, it was Nora's idea." George said, clearing his throat.

"I said, are there cookies?" Marti yelled.

"We'll get some cookies on the way, okay bunny?" Nora said, which seemed to make Marti happy.

Casey sighed and put her bags with everyone else's. "How long is this going to be?"

"A week." Nora said.

"A week?" Casey asked in horror. "You're seriously going to waste our whole break?"

"We're not wasting it!" Nora exclaimed. "What you guys would probably do would be wasting it. We're making your spring break productive."

Derek rolled his eyes. "Will there be beaches there? Loud music? Hot girls who have a habit of taking their shirts off?"

Casey looked at him with disgust. "You're such a tool."

"You're such a prude." Derek retorted.

"Enough you two." George interrupted. "And no. No beaches, loud music, or promiscuous girls."

Derek raised his hands above his head. "Then this is a waste!"

"Whether you like it or not, you're going, and you're going to enjoy it!" Nora said.

All the kids looked at her like she was crazy. Derek gave a low whistle. "Alrighty then."

"Derek help me get the bags in the trunk. You too, Edwin." George said, motioning to his sons. Grudgingly the two began picking up bags and headed outside.

"Mom, I know you think this is a good idea, but it's really not." Casey said, crossing her arms across her chest.

"You'll thank us for this." Nora said.

"For making me spend my break with Derek, when otherwise I would mostly be rid of him because he'd be so busy skirt chasing? You're very optimistic, aren't you?" Casey asked, dryly.

"It won't be that bad." Nora assured her daughter.

"It may not." Lizzie said. "It could be fun." She shrugged.

Casey rolled her eyes, but dropped the subject for the time being, slouching against the wall as the guys continued to put the bags in the car.

"Can I at least go call Emily, and tell her we're going?" Casey asked.

"Yeah, of course, hun." Nora said, and Casey went upstairs, and called her best friend.

"Hello." She said when Emily answered the phone.

"What's going on? Is Derek moving? Oh my God, are they sending him away?" Emily asked frantically, apparently having seen the car being loaded.

"Calm down, Em." Casey said. "My mom and George sprung a trip on us, so we're all going out of town."

"For the whole week?" Emily asked.

"Unfortunately." Casey murmured into the phone.

"Well this sucks." Emily said. "Who am I going to hang out with this week?"

"I dunno, Em. I'm sorry." Casey said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it." Emily said. "Have fun."

Casey gave a bitter snort. "Yeah, right."

"Oh, come on. Have a little fun, Case." Emily said.

"Em, I'm going to be stuck with Derek all week." Casey said.

"Uh, Casey, you've lived with him for a year." Emily laughed.

Casey bit her lip. She hadn't told her about the Madam Rhiannon thing. She was just about to mention her worries when her mom knocked on the door even though it was open.

"We're ready Case. Can we get going? We want to spend as much time there as possible."

Casey sighed. "Em, I've gotta go."

"Oh, okay." Emily said. "Try and enjoy yourself a little, 'kay?"

"Impossible, but okay." Casey said. "Bye."

"Bye, Casey." And Casey hung up the phone, following her mom out of the room, closing the door behind her.

x—x

Review, loves.

-Tarryn