Dreaming

Chapter 3

Previously…

What was I doing two months ago? His eyes searched for a calendar and widened when he saw the date.

Two months ago…

Every Thursday after practice the guys went out for drinks. Well, to be honest, the guys went out for drinks after every practice, but Derek only went on Thursdays. He had found out early on that he had to concede on some things, but he rarely had more than 2 beers and usually was the designated driver for at least one teammate.

It was raining as they entered the seedy looking smoke filled pub that played White Stripes and provided them the anonymity they hated to admit they craved at times.

"You were distracted during practice today D. What gives?" Blake remarked as he sauntered toward the bar.

"Huh?" a still distracted Derek replied as he ran a hand through his messy hair and slid onto a brown barstool with a ripped seat while motioning to the bar keep. "Usual."

Jon slapped Derek on the back, "Dude what's up with you today?" dropping onto the seat beside him.

"Just got a lot on my mind." He mumbled looking down at the old bar top and tracing the initials carved there.

"If I didn't know better I'd say it was girl trouble, but we all know Derek gets rid of them before they become trouble." joked Ryan and the guys laughed. Derek chuckled too because it was expected, but in reality it was a girl problem. Derek put more effort into his façade and the rest of the evening went as usual.

At 11pm, Derek urged the guys to pack up and go home as per norm. With a lot of moaning and groaning the guys slowly stood to leave. For once Derek did not have anyone he needed to take home and as he walked to his car his thoughts turned to the girl. Today was her birthday. He had sent her the usual - a large bouquet of daisies. If she had ever realized the implication, she had never mentioned it to him. She had given the usual reply - a text message "Thanks, Der." It was like a hockey puck to the face. Her nonchalance stung him. One would think that after thirteen years it wouldn't burn so badly, but she alone had the ability to make him feel like no other.

These thoughts ran through his head as he drove home, stopped at the light, and caused him not to see the wildly careening car coming straight for him. The next few minutes happened in slow motion as the speeding blue Porsche T-boned the driver's side of Derek's car causing it to flip several times. The rest was a blur and now he was apparently waking up after spending two months in a coma in the White Memorial Medical Center. Derek ran his hand through his hair, ate another ice chip, and turned on the TV to ESPN.

In the limo…

Casey relaxed by opening a wine cooler in the back of the black stretch limo as she left the concert hall. She was physically and emotionally drained. She laid her head back on the plush deep red seats and closed her eyes. She was reminiscing again and smiled.

The past…

First year at Queen's started similarly to Casey's freshman year at John Sparrow Thompson High. Derek had arrived two weeks before Casey to start hockey practice. Casey was disgruntled by the fact that Derek was allowed to go to school early and not her. Due to Derek's outgoing personality, charm, and good looks he made friends easily and by the time Casey moved into the dorms two weeks later he was already popular. This annoyed her to no end especially when she was feeling uptight and anxious. While Casey annoyed some of her floor mates, fortunately her roommate was a good balance of serious and fun and took sympathy on Casey. Casey had a small group of friends by the end of the first week and starting feeling more comfortable. Although Casey didn't see Derek at all that first week, they had been texting daily which made their friends 1) curious as to their relationship and 2) unaware they were on campus together.

It was the morning of the second Thursday since classes had begun when Casey and her blond roommate were sitting in their room painting their nails when Blair said, "I want to go the hockey game tonight."

"What?" Casey sputtered and painted her desk top.

Blair gave Casey a strange look but already knew her well enough not to question. "The hockey team is playing their first game tonight. One of the players is in my Sociology class. He's pretty cute and invited me to come see him tonight."

"Oh" Casey was careful not to look at Blair which only aroused Blair's suspicion more. "Well have fun."

Blair's tone was stern. "You're going with me Case."

"I - I have a lot of homework."

"Case," Blair warned. "We are taking a break from the books and going to watch the hot hockey players."

Casey sighed and resigned herself. It wasn't that she didn't want to watch Derek play. In fact, she was planning on going to the hockey game too, just alone and incognito.

"Let's pick out clothes!"

Casey groaned.

At the rink...

Derek wasn't starting that night. He was just a freshman, but the senior guard got hurt at the end of the second period and Derek found himself going in for the second period. He had been nervous tonight but not nearly as nervous as he would have been had he known he was actually going to play. His mind briefly flitted to Casey and his heart pricked as he wished she was there, but he didn't have time to dwell on the thought as the period started.

Casey was cheering loudly as Derek made an assist. Derek continued to play well and had a second assist by the end of the game. Casey voice was hoarse but she didn't care. She was so proud of him. Blair had been observing Casey through-out the game and noticed that a very flushed Casey was cheering for one player in particular. Although Casey never yelled his name she was pretty sure it was number 18, Derek Venturi the program said.

The game ended and the girls stood up to stretch.

"So you wanna go down to the locker room and wait for the guys?" asked Blair casually but watching Casey's reaction closely.

Casey's eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Uh, no. But you can go and, uh, meet up with that guy from your class. I'll just walk back with Brandi and Jess."

Blair's eyes narrowed, then relaxed as she decided to let Casey off the hook - tonight. "Okay, don't wait up."

AN: Sorry about the cliff-hanger on the last chapter; although, it did make you review, so...

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