Sorry for the Delay! Lab has been busy and I've been here a lot! But I promise to be quicker about it for the next few chapters! Thanks for all that have read it so far and I hope you will still enjoy it! Story is from Derek's Point of View. And of course still Dasey and I don't own 'Life With Derek'
Chapter 2: Song to My Ears
What denoted what a sound is? How do people in fact know that a bird chirps? Why are there the different pitches, sounds, some pleasant and some that are absolutely dreadful? The quietest sound to the loudest shrill, hearing something from far away or something very near; all the sounds are very different from each other. Every little noise is something we hear every day.
But what about the sounds that are pleasure to the ears. The ones that get you deep down in the soul and rock you to the core. The little sound and noise that can put the biggest smile on your face and make your day. Though there are the sounds that can put an ache in your heart, tear you apart, and feel so terrible deep down. The one where you would do anything in your power to stop it, and make everything right in the world.
Well, I've seen both, experienced both, and tried to have handled both. But it unnerves me how much these sounds get to me each and every single time. Her voice is just the melody to my ears that I love to hear. Every sound and every pitch is different. And each one has a different meaning with me.
First there are the many different pitches that are used and dynamics and volume and breakdown when she says my name. Casey always has the knack of finding a different way to express her feelings towards me in every single scenario. The Der-ek's are for when she is angry, annoyed, and frustrated with me. Especially when she emphasizes the last syllabus, gives it the extra kick and flavor. It puts a smirk on my face that she knows it was me, and I know that she was thinking about me. But I also like the more subtle, softer toned Derek that I get. The one where there is some touching, family moment that somehow involves her getting all sappy. And I, Derek Venturi, do NOT do sappy. Or family touching moments either. But still, somehow having her have those loving thoughts about me make my day.
It reminds me of when I started realizing that I cared about Casey. Of course Snotty Scott, as Marti would say, had to be the light of reason. It just felt so wrong not telling her of the soccer sister scheme, and the fact that the jerk was using girls. And really, it really shed some light on what image I really had as well. I vowed to myself that I would try to improve, even if it was little by little. And I did die down the girl chasing, though every once in a while I find that I just can't help but have the ladies all over me. But I wanted to show Casey that I could be like them, like the other guys out there, I guess you could say one of the good guys. I wanted to hear her giggles and nervous babbling be directed towards me, for some of the klutzilla action to return.
Her giggles are the best sound. Usually that starts the destruction of klutzilla coming down the halls of Sir John Sparrow Thompson High School. The nervous pitch in her voice and then the giggles come out, with a smile that light up a room. It can be intoxicating, but it wasn't for a while to me. Or maybe deep down it did get to me, but I would accept it. First to Sam, then to Scott, Max, before Noel came around. Lately though, like right now at 1:50PM, when I look up from my locker at school and pull out my leather jacket, my prized possession, she is walking by with Emily. Our game is still going on to see who will crack first. I give my normal Venturi wink; it's a trademark in the halls. But then I hear it, the giggle, and not from Emily, but from Casey before I hear her shuffle away as quick as she can with Emily on her heels. I hear the whispering voices down the hall, and I know her tone anywhere. Even in her hushed tones I know she's talking about something, and I can only hope it's about me. But she's seeing Noel, and that is so Un-Casey like for her to be talking about another boy.
Enough about Casey already. I swear first it was her eyes, now it's just any sound that she makes. She is trying to drive me crazy; it has to be her way at getting back at me. I walk out of the school pulling my jacket closer as I walk to my car. Dad didn't give me 'The Prince' but that I bought my own car, nothing special but it gets me where I need to go. It was the first responsible thing I ever did in my life, besides getting my license, and for once I got the praise I always wanted. And just hearing her say "Congrats" meant so much to me. I got back home and went up to my room and lied down on my bed. I need some sleep, I'm having these crazy thoughts again.
I heard the sound that I cringe at the most. But it made my heart break all at the same time. I heard the door slam, the door I was so used to hearing close whenever I am near. The door that held my heart and she had the key and I was left outside. I usually was about 90 of the reason that door closed, but this time I wasn't. I sighed and jumped off by bed, contemplating if I should go next door, man up. I put my ear against the sharing wall, the fine line between our domains, and that's when I heard it. She was sobbing. And I had no idea what caused it.
A phone was ringing…. Her cell phone. The sobbing paused and the fainted sniffle was heard. "What?" she answered, and I knew she was keeping her head high. Unfortunately I wish I knew what was going on in the other half of the phone conversation. "I'm being irrational, I'm being IRRATIONAL?! Noel, you CHEATED on me after I left the party, what am I supposed to think? That you really care about me? I don't think so," Casey yelled and was clear as day through the wall. I held my breath, wondering if after a one year relationship, they were finally calling it quits. "No Noel, it isn't going to work this time….. I'm better than this, and honestly we are graduating in a few months!" Another pregnant pause made me wonder what was going on as I heard her slam her fist on the wall. I've never heard such angry come from her in a way that wasn't verbal. Always cool and collected, but not this time. "That's it Noel, we're THROUGH!" I heard her scream one last time before I heard a click. The sobbing started again.
Now, many would say this is the great time for the older step-brother that I am should step in and be supportive. Who are we all kidding, when have I EVER done the brotherly thing? Granted, I've been trying to be more supportive but my sarcastic, annoying role still comes out most of the time and haunts me. And yes, Sam tells me I'm like the little boy in 1st grade that pulls on a girl's pigtails until she pays attention, before nudging me telling me to just finally own up to my feelings. There's no way that I'd ever succumb to the suggestions my buddy Sam is saying, because saying it out loud would be true.
I hear the little toot next door, and I am brought back into the current situation. I sigh as I walk to the door, trying to prepare something in my head. I go out into the hallway to see Lizzie and Edwin sitting near the top of the stairs and looking at Casey's door. I wished they weren't there; it would make this all easier. Instead I suck in a breath and open Casey's door. For the past 3 years that the McDonald's have lived here, I've never once knocked, so why should I stop now? That would already be out of character, and I don't want her thinking I'm becoming a softie.
"Trouble in lover's paradise," I say sarcastically as I close her bedroom door. So much for trying to show that I can be a nice guy deep down.
"DE-REK!" I heard from a hoarseful, tearful Casey. I turn to see her looking at me from her desk with a tissue midway to her face. Her eye makeup was all blotchy and her nose all red from her blowing her nose. I heard another toot come from her before her tears of sorrow fell from her eyes. "Get out! I don't want to talk to anybody, especially YOU!"
I heard the quiver in her voice when she said that, almost pleading with me to not believe that statement. Her voice, even so angry as she said it, her tone was a pleading tone. The tone in her voice asking me to stay, to be comforting in her time of need. Her pitch was asking me for once not act like the Derek Venturi she was used to. Her sniffles were asking for support.
"I heard what happened and even though this goes against my policy of 'No Tears', I just wanted to see if you wanted to talk about it and if you were ok," I said as I hold in my breath. I know she has to be thinking that I'm out of my mind. I hear her turn around quickly in her chair as she jumps up from it, the shock evident on her face.
"Really?" Casey asked meekly as she walked closer to me. I took a step backward, because really I haven't ever been in this situation before with a girl. I'm the one running the other way. Remember how I didn't want to have the post break-up talk with Kendra? I didn't want to deal with the tears, but I was standing here now ready.
"It's the holidays and I feel that it can be your one freebie. You could say it's an early Christmas gift," I say with a smirk. Smooth move, you saved yourself from making this even more ackward.
"Noel broke up with me," she said with void of any emotion, which surprised me. But then I heard the little hiccup before the sobbing began again. "He cheated on me Derek. We had been together pretty much a whole year. It's a long time for a relationship. And things seemed great," she paused to blow her nose again and wipe her face from the new tears that were falling down, "but then I heard from Emily out of all people about the party last weekend. She said after I left he started talking to Amy and next thing she knew, and next thing she knew, they started making out, right there in the middle of the party. She took a picture of it with her camera on her phone and sent it to me. And I asked him to come clean about it since she only told me today and he had the nerve to say it never happened." She started crying again and I could only imagine how hard she was taking this. Sure, Casey is a drama queen, but this was something legit to be upset about.
"I'm really sorry he did that," was all I could mutter out as I sat there trying to think of the supporting things I should say.
She took a deep breath, one that I know that she does when she is about to ask something she's thought of for a long time and really wants to understand. The breath that is of uncertainty and if she actually wants to know what the answer is. "Derek, what is wrong with me? Why do I always seem to get screwed over in the relationship? Is it something I do, or say? Is it because I'm not the prettiest girl or the easiest girl at our school?"
My only thought was could she be out of her mind! "Casey, it's nothing you did, honestly." I thought for a moment before I continued with my thoughts, or more like give myself the courage to continue with my thoughts. "No, you aren't the easiest girl at school, nor should you be. That would go against your morals, and a guy like Noe,l or anyone else like him, aren't worth your time. You'll find the right guy that puts a smile on your face and challenges you to be the best person that you are, because that is what you deserve. And obviously, people have to find you attractive, since the guys always seem to go after you," I finished with a meek smile.
"That's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me," she said softly. Her voice was so soft yet full of emotion and I know that I said the right thing that she needed to here. The comfort was back in her voice and I could almost tell that there was a bit of a smile in her voice. Before I could stop her, she grabbed me into a hug. I need to work on my reflexes. "Thanks for being there for me. I definitely wasn't expecting you to be the one to do it." Her voice was so muffled since she said it as her head was down into my shoulder.
"Ok Casey, you can let go of me now," even though I didn't want her to. She peeled herself off of me, and I saw that there was snot on my shirt. Just great, it was one of my favorite shirts too.
"Derek I'm sorry! I'll wash it for you if you want, it's the least I could do," she said in her songful voice.
"Oh yea?" I got a smirk on my face. I don't even know what compelled me to do it, but my body was acting on its own accord. I ripped my shirt off and threw it at her as I watched her grab it. I heard her sharp intake of breath and her gasp as I did it and couldn't help but let my smirk grow larger. I turn and walk to the door but turn around while opening it. "Just make sure I get it back by Saturday. And there better not be any more snot on it either."
I take one last look at her as I see the shock in her eyes and her stuttering as she tries to say something back to me. Makes me feel alive to know that I could do that to her. I chuckle and walk out of her room and close the door. Lizzie and Edwin are still sitting at the top of the stairs looking at me as if I was crazy. I mean, I just came out of Casey's room shirtless, I guess I must be. "What are you two looking at?" I say to them before they jump up and run down the stairs.
Casey may have one the last time we had our showdown, but this time, Venturi shoots, and Venturi scores! The game may still be on, but now the odds were in my favor.
Hope you are still enjoying, let me know what you think!