Chapter 6

Casey was painting her nails as Emily walked in the room.

"Casey, I have something to tell you." Emily said calmly.

Casey looked up, "Yeah, sure, Em, you can tell me anything."

"I'm have a date with Sam tonight!" Emily shrieked.

Casey look frazzled, "No way!"

"Yeah, he's coming over tonight, I totally understand if you want to go out with friends or something tonight."

"No, that's okay, you're really my only friend now-a-days."

"Really? I thought you were close with Derek?"

"Don't even say that name..." Casey said as she closed her eyes, "I'll stay out of your way tonight."

"No, don't be silly, you can come down and watch the movie with us!"

"Really, Em? That'd be great, thanks."

"Anytime, babe." Em said as she hugged her best friend.

Casey went back to painting her nails and Emily went downstairs to the front porch to call Sam.

"Hey, Sam, it's Em...it's working."

"Yo, D..." Sam said as he walked into his room.

Derek looked up with Cheeto remains on his shirt and a beer in his hand.

"Dude, it's 10am, why are you drinking beer? My mom is gonna kill you if she sees you."

"No worries, man." Derek said as he burped.

Sam shook his head, "Well, anyways, we're going out today."

Derek got a bolt of energy, "Yeah, man, that's the spirit, where are we going?"

"Emily's house."

Derek dropped his head, "No, man, seriously? Why?"

"Because I have a date with her, so we're going to watch movies...and I don't trust you here with my sisters home, so you're coming with."

Derek groaned, "Fine, but is anyone else going to be there?"

"Nope, just us." Sam lied with a smirk and started walking out the door, "Oh, Derek, one more thing..."

"Yeah?"

"Please shower before we go. You look disgusting."

Sam walked out and called Emily right away, "Yup, it's all set, noon today."

"Casey, come on, Sam's going to be here any minute!" Emily yelled from downstairs.

"I'm coming." Casey yelled from the top of the stairs.

She was wearing old blue jeans and a beautiful cap-sleeve top.

"Case, you look so cute!" Emily commented.

"Thanks, I haven't worn anything other than sweats in awhile, so I thought I would do something different."

Suddenly the door bell rang.

"I'll get it!" Emily said in a sing-song voice.

Casey was in the kitchen getting a glass of water when the boys walked in.

"Casey, come on!" Emily yelled from the family room.

Derek froze and Casey quickly appeared in the doorway and dropped the cup of water when she saw him.

Casey ran back into the kitchen to grab paper towels and Emily followed. Derek immediately put his hands in his pockets and looked down.

Sam came up behind Derek, "Sorry, man, we did what we had to do."

"And what exactly did you have to do?" He asked with fear in his eyes.

"You and Casey man. Emily and I don't like seeing the both of you like this, it's depressing."

"I'm sorry." He responded as he looked down.

"What is he doing here, Em?" Casey growled.

"It's for the best, Case, you were starting to scare me...you're just like a vegetable all day here. Something had to be done."

"Sorry." She said quickly.

"Sam and I just want to see the both of you happy, so go out there and put on your happy face."

Casey didn't even respond...she just walked back out to the family room.

"Hi Sam. Derek." Casey said quickly.

"Hi." Derek said...still looking down.

"Well, hi there Casey, what's new?" Sam asked.

"Not a whole lot." Casey stated.

"Okay, first, we're going to watch Casablanca!" Em said as she entered the room with the popcorn.

Casey and Derek groaned and Sam was excited.

Em sat on Sam's lap on the floor, and Derek and Casey sat next to each other awkwardly on the small love seat.

Derek glanced down and saw Em and Sam fast asleep.

Every now and the, Derek would hear something and look over to see Casey crying and wiping away her tears.

Suddenly, he heard something else; like Casey was going to throw up. He looked over and saw her hand over her mouth.

"Casey?" He asked, alarmed.

She jolted up and ran to the trash can in the corner of the room.

Derek got up after her and grabbed her hair.

A minute or so later, Casey was done...

"Case, are you okay?" Derek asked sensitively.

"I think I just have that flu...you know, the one that's going around."

Derek didn't know of any flu, but agreed with her anyways, "Yeah. Here let me get you a glass of water."

"No, no, I'm fine." She said, trying to refuse his help.

"Case, come on." He said reaching for her hand and bringing her up to her feet.

They walked to the kitchen and he lifted her up onto the counter. She took and sit of the water he gave her...

"So, how have you been, Case?"

"I've been better...you?"

"Pretty much the same. What have you been up to?"

"Umm, honestly, nothing. Nothing at all."

"Yeah, I've been going to a few parties now and then, I got a new fake ID that's pretty real."

She rolled her eyes.

"I've missed you a lot, Spacey, and trust me, I know you've missed me, too." He said with a smirk.

"No."

There was silence, then she continued, "No, I don't trust you."

"Listen, Case," He said with his face becoming serious, "I'm really sorry for what I did. I'll do anything to make it up to you."

She thought for a minute, "Then tell me why you did it."

He paused and sighed, "I can't. It's hard for me to explain these things."

"Try me."

"I can't, Case, I'm sorry, but can't you just trust me again?"

"I don't think so. You know more than anyone that I hate secrets."

"Sorry, Case, I can't tell you."

With that, Derek lifted her off the counter, "I really think you should rest."

She didn't argue...she just let him carry her upstairs onto Emily's bed.

He tucked her in, pulling the covers up, feeling her forehead to see if there was a fever, and kissing her forehead.

He waited until he knew she was fast asleep, walked out of the room and whispered, "I love you, Casey."

Derek closed the door and traveled back downstairs to see Sam and Emily.

"Hey, Derek, where's Casey?" Emily asked.

"She didn't feel well, so I took her upstairs."

"Oh, well, I'm going to go check on her then, you guys can watch sports or whatever guys do." Emily said as she started her climb up the stairs.

She lightly knocked on her door, "Casey?"

"Come in." She heard Casey whisper.

"Sorry, were you asleep?"

"No, just faking it."

"Derek said you were sick, what's wrong?"

"I threw up again. It's like the third day in a row."

"Ew, that's so gro-" Emily froze, "Wait, did you say third day in a row?"

"Yeah, why?" She asked uneasily.

Emily was silent, "Oh, nothing, it wouldn't happen to you." she laughed.