Yay!! Enjoy
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It was 10 pm when they got there. They had spent a whopping six hours in the car, which included three stops at gas stations, more for food, and a chance to get out of the car than for gas, and an hour of being completely and totally lost. Six hours spent with Lizzie, Edwin and Marti seated together, and Derek and Casey squished next to one another. Lizzie sitting between them was an idea put to rest by Nora as soon as they reached the first stop light. She had managed to refrain from killing Derek thanks to her iPod, although he did put up a good fight, with humming and rude murmurings that could only be heard by her, as well as unnecessary squishing when they hit turns, and 'accidental' elbowing.
"Yeah. That wasn't far at all." Casey murmured sarcastically as she got out of the car.
"Oh, don't complain. You survived." Nora said, flicking her wrist at her daughter.
"Barely." Casey scoffed. "I mean, God, Derek, have you even heard of deodorant?" She complained even though she hadn't smelled anything malodorous during the car ride.
"Oh, yeah, I've heard of it." Derek nodded assuringly. "And I might be able to use it once in a while, if your tremendous body odor didn't require you to use up half a stick every morning." Derek smirked.
"Der-ek!" Casey yelled angrily.
"Can we keep the screeching to a minimum? It's late." Edwin asked, rubbing his ears.
"Edwin's right. Please spare us." Lizzie said, rubbing her eyes.
"I'm tired!" Marti cried, feeling she wasn't getting enough attention.
"I know. Everyone get their bags." Nora said. Everyone did as they were told and they headed toward the doors of the hotel they were apparently staying at. The Pebble Springs Stay Hotel, as the sign said.
It wasn't magnificent to say the least, but it wasn't too bad either. It had different floors, and elevators, and a pool, at least. And the staff didn't look grouchy, or murderous. They were greeted with smiles. They checked in and got the keys to their rooms.
"Okay, Lizzie and Casey, you are sharing a room. Derek and Edwin, you too. Marti will be staying with me and George." Nora said, giving them the room keys.
"Don't stay up late, no wandering around, and be good." Nora said. "We're right here, across the hall if you need us."
"Okay mom." Casey said before turning to open the room. Taking this as a goodnight, everyone else did the same.
Once inside, Casey observed the room.
"Casey don't even complain. The room isn't bad." Lizzie said before her sister could make a single comment about the room.
Casey rolled her eyes and put her bags beside the bed she chose. She inspected the sheets which appeared to have no mysterious stains. Neither did the floor. The walls were covered in an agreeable wallpaper, and there was a small couch and chair against the opposite wall, with a mini fridge, which Casey hoped was locked, or else Derek would be even more trouble.
"Yeah, it's not that bad." Casey agreed. She spoke to soon.
"Do you know if the key to the mini fridge is in the room?" Derek asked, walking into the room.
Casey hadn't noticed the small door. They were adjoined rooms. Casey sighed.
"Why would mom do this to me?" She asked herself, looking up to the ceiling.
"What? Put us next to each other in adjoined rooms? So I could drive you insane even more?" Derek suggested.
Edwin walked into the room and looked around. "Aw, come on. You guys got the better room. Ours has this weird stain..."
"That's so pleasant. Now get out." Casey deadpanned.
"What, you don't want to hang out with your two favorite step brothers?" Derek asked.
"Oh, Derek, I only have one favorite step brother." Casey smiled grimly. "So the other one can leave now."
Derek put a hand over his heart as if it hurt. "Geez. That's cold, Case. It really is. You would just kick poor Edwin out like that?"
Casey laughed without humor. "Derek, get out."
"Can I stay? I'm bored." Edwin asked.
"Yeah, so am I." Lizzie said.
"You can stay and hang out with Lizzie, Edwin." Casey said.
"Cool, I'm going to get my cards. I brought them." Edwin said, leaving the room, and coming back after a moment. He and Lizzie sat down on the floor.
"Well, I'm staying too. This chair looks comfortable." Derek said, sitting down in the chair.
"I'm sure the chair is just as comfortable in your room." Casey said through gritted teeth, crossing her arms.
Derek shrugged but got up.
"Thank you." Casey said, assuming he was leaving. Instead he walked past her and picked up the remote from the small table next to her bed, and sat back down in the chair.
"For what?" Derek smirked as he turned on the television.
Casey groaned in frustration, and her attempts to rid the room of Derek proved unsuccessful, so she resigned and sat down on her bed. She didn't realize how tired she was until she let herself lay down. And not even Derek purposefully calling out to the tv didn't stop her from falling asleep.
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"Casey, get up." Casey rolled over and blinked several times, after being lightly shaken. When she opened her eyes, her mother was standing over her.
"Casey, why is everyone in here?" Her mother asked.
Casey adjusted herself to sitting, and she saw that Derek was asleep in the chair, and Lizzie and Edwin were asleep on the floor, the cards around them.
Casey rubbed her eyes. "I dunno, I guess we all just fell asleep. Edwin and Lizzie were bored, and Derek wanted to be annoying, so he stayed in here and was watching tv. We must have fallen asleep." She repeated.
Nora nodded. "Alright. Can you get everyone up? George and I are going to the stores that are across the street for a little while, so I want you and Derek to take the kids to the pool."
Casey nodded, and her mom left the room.
Casey climbed out of bed and took advantage of everyone being asleep and quickly showered and dressed. Being quite proud of herself, she stepped back into the room, clean and awake fifteen minutes later. Derek was already awake.
"Took advantage of your time, did you?" Derek said, his arms crossed. Lizzie and Edwin were still asleep.
"Yes, I did." Casey nodded proudly.
"Forgot that I have my own room, with my own shower." Derek said, gesturing to the next room. Casey's face fell. She noticed that his hair was damp, and he was dressed.
"Oh." She said.
"You're a funny one, McDonald. Trying to win, when there's no game." He shook his head, smirking.
"We're supposed to be going to the pool." Casey told him.
"I know. Nora and and my dad aren't leaving until everyone's ready. Marti's watching tv in my room, in her floaties." Derek said. Casey turned and saw the dividing door open.
Casey nodded. "Then why don't you go sit with her? I'll get them up." Casey asked, tired of his precense.
"Whatever." Derek said, turning to go into the next room.
Casey rolled her eyes, and went to shake Lizzie and Edwin awake.
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Review, loves.
-Tarryn
