Learning to Love
By, awesometastic9
Standard Disclaimer
Chapter Two
The Roomies Scoop
Derek glared. "Fine, Space Case. I'll leave you and lover boy to get all cozy inside your dorm." He said meanly, got in the car and left.
Derek drove faster than he should have down the college streets over to his dorm across campus; no one stopped him though. He grumbled to himself the whole time: "Casey… googley eyes… drooling… first boy she sees…" and he didn't really understand why that prick hitting on Casey annoyed him to the point that he wanted to punch his lights out and never let Casey out of his sight again.
He was really confused as to why.
Derek pulled up before his dorm building – finally stopping the muttering – and put the car in park, shut it off and got out. He stood outside the car for a moment - staring off into space – because something occurred to him: Do I like Casey? And instantly threw that thought into the trash. Well, to the back of his mind, to be honest. He didn't want to think about that right now. Not about feelings. No, definitely not.
So, Derek sighed, and shut the car door. He got around to the trunk and unlocked that, starting to get everything out. After he got a good armful he locked the car again – this time with the automatic lock in his mouth, using his teeth (gosh he's talented) – and headed into the boys dorm.
Derek knew exactly what his dorm number was. How? Casey wrote the letter and number on every box of his – on every side – twice. It was fricking staring him in the face, and just being reminded of Casey made him want to punch something. Or some-particular-one, he thought angrily.
He stopped before his dorm room, E27 and rattled the handle, pushing the door open.
There was already another guy inside, Must be Alec Martison, my roommate. Derek thought, and put his stuff down heavily on the empty bed.
The guy – Alec – jumped like ten feet in the air.
"Woah!" he cried, spinning around to face Derek.
"I'm Derek Venturi, your roommate." Derek said simply, and held out his hand for Alec to shake. Alec did, looking openly relieved.
"Alec Martison," he replied.
Derek let go of his hand and looked at Alec, still all fidgety.
"What – did you think I was like a serial killer or something?" Derek said with a raised eyebrow and a tight smile.
Alec's face got red. "No, I was just lost in my thoughts and didn't hear you come in, so you startled me."
Derek laughed – but the sound was off, not like Alec to know that, but Casey would – and said,
"It happens to us all," as if he understood. Which, he sort of did. Casey barged in on him countless times in his room to scream and rant and throw a hissy fit when he was 'lost in his thoughts'. But, mostly, he was just staring off into space, trying to get Casey's face to be gone from his mind.
Okay, stop right there. No feelings. Not today. Derek scolded himself, inwardly gritting his teeth as he thought it.
"Yeah, don't I know it…" Alec said with a laugh of his own, trailing off.
"Yeah," Derek said, and then, "I still have to get the rest of my crap from my car…"
"I'll help. What are roomies for, right?"
"One, don't say 'roomie's' and two, yeah." Derek said, and motioned for Alec to follow him.
Once they got to the car Derek unlocked the Yaris and began grabbing his hockey gear from the driver's side backseat.
"Woah!" Alec said, appearing over Derek's shoulder. "Nice set of blades there man!" looking at Derek's hockey skates in awe. "Bauer Vapor X:60?"
"Yeah," Derek said. "They were another going away gift from my dad and my stepmom," he sighed.
"Why do you not sound thrilled?" Alec asked in mock horror.
"I -" Derek began, but stopped himself; No feelings, Derek. Gosh the whole damn world was out to get him today! "I'm fine. I was just thinking of something I'd rather not think about."
"Want to talk about it, man?" Alec said, and Derek spun around to look him square in the eyes.
"What are you, a pansy?" Derek said, a bit too harshly and instantly regretted it when he saw the look in Alec's eyes. "Sorry, man. I just… not right now, okay?"
"I get it…" Alec said, raising his hands up in surrender. "Seriously. Tough home life or whatever… but-" he stopped when he saw the look on Derek's face. "Right. Not right now. Sorry."
Derek sighed. "It's okay, now, let's get this crap back in the dorm."
---
After that almost-talking-about-feelings incident by the car, Alec and Derek fell into an easy friendship. They lazed around in their room, talking hockey, stuffing their faces and Alec gave him the scoop on Queen's.
"So, you're a sophomore, then?" Derek asked, shoving a handful of cheese puffs in his mouth.
"Yeah, second year. Wonderful." He rolled his eyes.
"What's up?"
"Ugh, it's just the academics that get me down. Queen's is pretty prestigious, when you get right down to it."
"Yeah, my stepsister, got in full scholarship." Derek said.
"Which one?" Alec said, suddenly, sitting straight up on his desk chair.
"Uhhh…" Derek racked his brains. Come on, she's said it five bazillion times! Then , he remembered. "The Harrison-LeCaine, one."
"Woah!" Alec said for the billionth time today it seemed. "Do you know how big of a deal that is?"
"Uhhh… maybe? I mean she wouldn't shut up about it, but… she never gave any details about what she had to do to get it, really." Derek said.
"Dude, the Harrison-LeCaine Scholarship hasn't been given out in 30 years."
Shock crossed Derek's face. "Woah," he said. "Seriously?"
"Yeah," Alec said, nodding vigorously. "So, is she like Einstein-ette or something?"
Derek laughed. "She wishes; she's just a total grade-grubbing, OCD, perfectionist, keener."
"And you?" Alec asked. "How did you get into Queen's? Are you just as smart, because man -"
"Woah! No. I am so not smart. I'm here on a hockey scholarship, actually."
"Which one?" Alec asked again.
"Lou Jeffries," Derek replied.
Alec's eyes widened. "Wow."
Derek laughed, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Yeah, well. I've been playing a long time. And I just did really well when it counted the most."
"Yeah."
They were quiet for a few moments, and then there was a knock on the dorm door.
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A/N: okay, so this one was shorter than I intended, but it was getting to have too much dialogue and I didn't want to bore you guys. lol. So, whatcha think? should I keep updating? and of course to answer that you have to REVIEW!!! please? I would really like your feedback.
Next chappie is called, "Ice Cream Social". it'll be up soon if I get some reviews!
kiggles (kisses & huggles) lol.
-awetast9