Disclaimer: NIN. Lit. Cap'n Crunch. iPod. LWD. Vulcans. I don't own these in that order. I also don't own Lillix, but if they ever want to own me, I'll gladly sell myself.
Chapter 6: We're in this Together
Still Sunday Night, Venturi-MacDonald Residence
The choices we make may not always turn out the way we hope, but it is the unpredictability of life that molds us into the individuals that we are destined to be and also those we are destined to love.
About an hour or so after Derek's shocking declaration of love, Derek and Casey finally arrive home. After leaving the hospital, the newly formed couple went for walk to discuss the many ways to break it to their now respected Ex's and have them keep their new relationship a secret if that's even possible.
Derek and Casey step up onto the front porch simultaneously both setting their gaze on the front door. Derek speaks up, "So it's settled, the bombs go off after school…tomorrow…separately."
Casey breaks her staring contest with the front door, "Would you rather have broken nails, hair yanked out, and bloody noses?"
Derek starts rubbing his chin with hand, "Hmm…maybe having us all together won't be such a bad idea," he smirks at the front door. Casey slaps him on the arm, "This is serious, I feel so bad about this whole situation and now I have to be the bad guy, but you, your used to this kind of thing," she closes her eyes.
Derek turns to Casey's direction to comment on what she just said, but thinks it might be better to not open a new can of worms, "Case, Case, Case, re….lax…., I'm sure Noel will understand, he seems mature enough, but I do say, he's not much a fighter," he calms her, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Derek," she says sternly. Derek continues, "I mean if it wasn't for you, he probably wouldn't have been able to go to school tomorrow."
"Derek," she replies the same way, but in a deeper tone.
Derek raises his hand up in defeat, "Fine, but Casey don't worry so much about this, it'll all work out in the end."
Casey raises an eye brow at Derek, "You know, it's really dangerous for someone like you to be so optimistic." Derek takes on a serious demeanor, "Yes, yes it is, but someone has to do it."
Casey laughs, "I guess your right, well, time to act like our old selves again." She sighs.
Derek sighs and opens the door.
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Monday Morning, Venturi-MacDonald Residence
The sun shines through the living room curtains while Edwin and Lizzie quietly enjoy their morning breakfast at the dining table across from each other. The sound of footsteps can be heard along with light whispers coming down the stairs. Lizzie and Edwin's heads rise. Edwin nods head at Lizzie. Lizzie returns the nod. Lizzie darts her eyes at Casey and Derek as they enter into her field of vision.
"Good morning," Lizzie smiles at Casey.
Casey grins, "Good morning guys."
Derek opens the fridge to get the milk. Edwin turns his head toward Derek, "How was the party? We're there any babes there?" Edwin grins sinisterly. Derek looks up from his cereal at Edwin, "Yeah, quite a few," Derek shoots a smirk at Casey, "but only one really caught my eye." Casey gives Derek a piercing look. Edwin's eyes dilate, "Really, what did you do?"
Derek looks at him surprised, "What could I do? Did you forget I have a girlfriend? I'm not a player, as I let on people to believe." Edwin resumes eating his cereal, "Oh, I forgot for a second," Edwin notices the cuts on Derek's face, "Derek, did a cat attack you?" Derek looks dumbfounded. Edwin points at him, "The claw marks on your face."
"Oh, uhh, yeah, there was a ferocious cat at the party." Derek replies.
Lizzie looks at Edwin then looks at Casey as she sits down at the table beside her, "So Casey, did you and Noel have a good time?" Casey fiddles with her toast, "Ye…yep…we had a great time."
"Really? You don't sound so sure," Lizzie replies. Edwin kicks her feet under the table, "Ow! Edwin why are you kicking me," but misses his intended target, kicking Casey instead. "Oh sorry, I was trying to stretch my legs," Edwin tries to cover up. Edwin looks at Lizzie, giving her a look that says she's laying it on too thick.
Casey continues the Q&A with Lizzie, "I'm sure."
Derek talks with a mouth full of Cap'n Crunch, "What's with the 21 questions?"
Lizzie and Edwin look at each other as if they had been busted. Edwin nervously laughs, "What do you mean 21 questions, can we, your family, not care about your personal lives?"
"No." Derek says bluntly.
Edwin's head drops down, "Yes sir."
"Spill it," Derek goes for another spoon full of Cap'n Crunch.
"Sp…spill what?" Lizzie says cautiously.
Casey wipes her mouth with her napkin, "Well, you wouldn't be grilling us with questions unless you had an ulterior motive, hmm," Casey leans toward Lizzie.
Lizzie and Edwin stutter in unison, "Wha….wha…what ulterior motive."
Derek shallows, "See?"
Lizzie and Edwin get up from the table. "This is what we get for trying to be a family," Edwin says.
"Ha-ha," Derek chokes on his food. Edwin turns away from Derek, "Come on Lizzie, let's get ready for school." He says firmly.
"Okay." Lizzie replies. They walk up the stairs.
Casey stares at Derek with a bewildered look. Derek shrugs his shoulders and continues to eat.
Lizzie and Edwin reach the top of the stairs but not to far so they can't hear Casey and Derek.
Lizzie whispers to Edwin, "Why aren't they saying anything?"
Edwin looks puzzled, "Hmm, they're good, real good."
"Huh?" Lizzie replies.
"Don't worry we'll surely succeed next time," Edwin assures her.
"Definitely," Lizzie replies.
Edwin raises his fist, "Time to bring out the big guns."
Marti pops her head in between Lizzie and Edwin, "What big guns?"
Lizzie and Edwin jump up. "Marti, don't scare us like that, we didn't say anything about big guns."
Marti folds her arms, "Did too, now tell me!" Edwin covers her mouth with his hand, "Shh…okay we'll tell you, but not here, it's too dangerous," he points her up the stairs and they follow her up.
Derek starts laughing, "So predictable." Casey chuckles.
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[Insert Name High School (sorry, can't remember the name of their school)
Casey pulls in to the student parking lot and parks in an open space. She takes the keys out of the ignition, but stays in the car, as she waits for Derek to finish.
The music is blaring from the car speakers playing Lillix's Turpentine. Casey grins as she watches Derek sing along with the power pop girl group.
Infinite, yet limited , you take my mind, so complex I'll understand all in good time. I'm poisoned again, it's like turpentine. Don't you stare, I'm aware And you're not the one to say You're the same, built for shame And I'm not that far away...Away...
Derek sings in a high-pitched off-key voice, but slightly better than him singing the National Anthem. Even though Casey is thoroughly enjoyed by Derek's performance, she sees the time on the Radio clock.
Casey turns the volume down, "Alright Tasha-Ray, I'd love to hear you sing the rest, but class is going to start soon."
Derek clears his throat, "Uh hmm, I guess your probably thinking 'Where the hell did this come from?', well every time I complained about you playing this music, I was secretly singing the songs in my head, one of the many secrets I have kept till now, including last night's secret."
Casey smirks, "Secrets huh, well, you fooled me."
"Not very hard," Derek scoffs.
"De-rek," Casey widens her eyes.
Derek laughs, "Just kidding… but…no one should know what I just told you."
Casey nods her head.
Derek raises his eye brow, "I mean no one, not even your BFF."
Casey laughs, "Yes, yes, not even Emily, I got it." Derek eyes her for a second.
Derek looks out the window, "Okay, Operation: Heartbreak commences…now."
"Derek, don't call it that, again, this is serious," Casey protests, "We'll make as little contact with Noel as we can. I never thought not being in any of his classes would be such a relief," Casey looks at her text message history on her cell phone, "but he is definitely curious about what happened last night, I texted him back to meet me at the park after school, but he hasn't replied back."
Derek turns his head to face Casey, "Don't linger on it. Let's go."
Casey and Derek exit the car.
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The end of fifth period bell rings.
Casey comes out of her Algebra class, along with Emily at her side.
They make a stop at Casey's locker before heading to their next class. Emily notices the suspicious looks directed at them from the students walking in the hallway. Emily takes a mirror out of her purse, and looks at herself to see if there is anything on her face. She checks out okay, she turns to Casey, "Hmm, nothing wrong with you either, I wonder why we're getting all these weird looks from everyone."
Casey's puzzled. "Weird looks?"
"Yeah." Emily grabs Casey's chin, "Look." Casey sees the students walking by talking amongst themselves taking casual glances at her.
Oh no, could Noel have said something? No, he wouldn't do that. Would he?
Just as Casey thinks about the possibility of Noel spreading rumors, she get's a message from Noel.
Case. Need to talk now. Where are you?
Casey closes her phone, not sure if she should reply back. Emily looks back and forth at Casey's phone and her, "Case? Who was that? Something wrong?"
Casey, fearing what she thought might be true, stutters, "Uh…uh…no, nothing's wrong."
Emily doesn't look convinced, "But you-."
"Hey."
Emily interrupted by Noel, as he comes into view. Casey turns to him, "Noel."
Noel looks over to Emily, "Hey Emily, do you think you could give us a second?"
Emily looks at Casey, "Ssuuurree."
"Thank you." Noel replies.
Casey watches Emily walk away, waiting for her to get out of listening range, "Noel. Did you—."
"No." He says quickly. "That's why I needed to talk to you now."
Casey gazes across the hallway, "What's going on then?"
Noel takes a breath, "Apparently, we weren't the only ones from this school to go to that party last night." Casey begins to say something, but Noel continues to talk. "And you should know I would never do something like that."
Casey still looks confused, "What is everyone talking about exactly?"
Noel closes his eyes, "There's a rumor going around that you and Derek might care for each other more than siblings should care for each other."
Casey becomes enraged, breaking the pencil in her hand, "Step-sibling!"
Noel looks down at the broken pieces on the hallway floor, "Case. Do you really think about Derek in that way?"
Casey's fury dies down, and her face becomes crestfallen, "Noel."
"Casey."
Casey puts her hand on her forehead, "I wanted to explain to you about everything that's happened after school, but I guess it needs to be done now."
Frustration swarms Casey's face, as she watches Noel impatiently wait for an answer.
Noel speaks up, "I'm listening."
Casey looks down then up at Noel, "Noel. It's true. I…I…love Derek."
Noel just stares at Casey, not responding.
"Noel?" Casey says.
"How long have you felt this way? Before me, or while you were with me?" Noel asks, in a Vulcan-like manner.
Casey's head drops a little, "I don't know exactly, maybe I've always felt that way about him."
"Casey, if you're not sure, then maybe you not really in love with him, this could be just a crush." Noel replies.
"Noel."
"Casey, think this through, you and Derek, it can't happen." Noel pleads.
"Noel."
Noel continues to talk, as if not hearing Casey say his name, "We have months between us, Casey. You're not really going to just forget all of that, are you?"
"Noel. I'm sorry."
Noel stops for a second, to think of what to say next, "You're serious?"
"I'm sorry."
Noel looks around the hallway at students passing by, "Will you be able to handle this," he says, not making eye contact with her.
"I'll manage. Noel. I'm really, really sorry," she says, touching his arm, "it was sudden, I can't control the way I feel.
He turns away from her, "I've got class," he says, in an indifferent tone.
Casey just watches as Noel walks away from her. She just stands frozen in place. The hallways clear at the sound of the bell. Derek walks up behind her placing one of the ear pieces from his iPod on to her ear. Casey turns around with the ear piece still on. They just stand there listening to the music.
You and me
We're in this together now
None of them can stop us now
We will make it through somehow
You and me
If the world should break in two
Until the very end of me
Until the very end of you
Casey speaks over the music, "So you've heard?"
Derek nods his head.
"I told Noel." She says.
Derek nods his head again.
The iPod shuffles from Nine Inch Nails to Miserable by Lit, and gets stuck and loops the first line in the first verse of the song.
You make me come
Derek examines the iPod, and looks up at Casey with a big grin.
Casey gets the innuendo, "Pig!" She laughs, swatting Derek on the arm.
Derek laughs, putting his arm around Casey's shoulder, "Let's skip the rest of our classes."
"Okay," Casey says, rather fast.
Derek looks taken a back at Casey agreeing to skip class so quick.
"I'm falling even harder for you," he says, pecking her on the cheek.
"De-rek!"
A/N: Good? nay or yay, or w/e. You know what, I have an idea for a sequel, and it might involve something really really out there (emphasis on the words, out there). But I'm getting a little ahead of myself, this fanfic is far from over. I guess I'm impatient when I have ideas pop up in my head.
Thanks for reading, Lates.