Derek and I had danced for a long time the night before and now we sit on the couch. The TV is going, but I don't think he's watching either. Have I fallen for him again? Yeah. Why, why again? "Casey?" Derek asks. "Hmm," I reply coming out of my thoughts. "Want to go out and get some breakfast?" he asks. I nod, "Let me go get changed." I run up the stairs to the guest room and into the closet. I pick out one of my old jean mini skirts, a blue toga top (You know those tops that are long sleeve but the top of the sleeves are spilt and then connect by strings) with a white rose on it, and matching blue ribbon tie wedge heals. I slip my hair into a curled bun with blue beads in it. I clasp my silver hoops and apply a light coat of lip gloss. I head down stairs. Derek is standing at the foot of the stairs. "Are you ready?" he asks. "Yeah, let's go." I say walking to the front door. Derek opens the door for me and then opens my car door too. In my seat is a blindfold. "Put it on," he says. I look at him for a minute. I slowly lift the blindfold to my face a put it on. Derek starts the car and we begin to move. With in 20 minutes the car stops and I feel Derek grasp my hand and lead me out of the car. "Just a few more steps," he says, "… Okay take off the blindfold and open your eyes." I open my eyes and see that we're at my favorite diner: Dance. We entered and were seated with in minutes. "So, what'll it be?" a young waiter asks. "Two hash browns and chili." Derek says look at me. I grin. "And what to drink?" the waiter asks. "Two cinnamon lattes," I say. The waiter winks at me and walks off. "Derek, did you see that?" I ask nervously. Derek nods, "I have an idea, just go with the flow." He takes off his class ring and slips it on my left ring finger. As the waiter comes back with our food Derek says, "So babe where are we having our honeymoon?" "Oh, I don't know, Jamaica or Hawaii, what do you think?" I reply. "Jamaica sounds nice." Derek says with a grin and gives me a kiss on the cheek. The waiter roughly sets the food on the table and walks off. I laugh. We eat our meal and then leave.
Now we are sitting in the game room doing nothing. "I'm bored," Derek complains. I look out the window, "Yeah, me too. Maybe I should head home." "I guess." He says. "I'll go get my stuff, can you call a cab?" I ask getting up and heading for the door. "I'll take you home." He says. "Are you sure?" I ask. "Yeah," He replies, "just let me get changed." I nod and go to do the same. What to wear? Ooh, I know! I slip into a pair of jeans with a hole in the thigh, a black strapless top that is tight around the top and fans out at the bottom, and my 3 inch black leather boots. I pull my hair back into a ponytail and put a black velvet bangs holder (you know throws things that you push back in your hair) and throw on a pair of black teardrop earrings. I apply some pink blush, black eyeliner, gray eye shadow, mascara, and dark red lipstick. Okay I'm ready. I leave my room the same time Derek walks out of his. Again his eyes bulge out. I grin and walk down the hall. I grab my purse from the couch and throw Derek his keys. "Ready?" I ask. Derek nods and opens the door for me. I walk out and down to the car Derek had already been down there a put the top down, so I just sit on the outside of the car and swing my legs over. Derek comes down the walk a few minutes later and gets in the car. Derek turns on the radio and the song I Wanna Love You begins to play. I begin to sing. Derek looks over at me.
As we pull up to my apartment building we see fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. I look over at Derek. He doesn't turn his head or even send me a side glance; he just stares at the road. We make the final turn, which gives us a full view of the building. Flames are peeking through the window of my apartment and Emily's too. Smoke is all around the building. "Damn it!" I say. We pull up to one of the cop cars. "What happened here?" Derek asks putting his arm around me. "There was a fire." The cop says looking at Derek like he's stupid. "Do you know what caused the fire?" Derek tries. "I'm sorry that information is confidential to anyone who doesn't have isn't a resident." The cop says. "I live in apartment 309." I say pulling out my key and handing it to him. He calls the landlord over to verify. "Casey!" Katy Fort, the landlord, says. "Hey Katy," I say, "Can you tell us what happened?" "It appears that 'someone' also known as Sam or so we think, set fire to your apartment. Emily was in her apartment at the time the fire spread to her. She's down at the hospital." Katy says. I look at Derek with misty eyes and without a word he switch's gears to reverse and pulls out of the parking lot.
With in 10 minutes we're pulling up to the hospital. "I'll go find I park spot you go ahead and find Emily." Derek says. I get out of the car and race through the doors. "Casey, don't you have the weak off?" Diane asks. "I'm here to find Em." I say. "Oh Emily," Diane says looking down. "Oh Emily what," I ask nervously. "Go talk to Marcus at the ICU." Diane replies. I push through a group of people and run down the stairs to the ICU. "Marcus, where's Emily?" I ask out of breath. "Down the hall 5th door on your right," He says. I take off down the room I was directed to. As I grab the knob to the door a hand grasps my other hand. I look over to see Derek. I smile a little and open the door. "Oh my god," I gasp and brake into tears. Derek turns me to face him and holds me close. Is he crying? I feel water hit the top of my head. Emily is lying in the bed, her burns aren't that bad, but it's obvious she's in a coma.
Was stayed with Emily for 15 minutes before I complete broke down and Derek had to carry me to the car. I'm laying in the back seat now. Derek is pulling up to his house. We've stopped. "Hey Casey, you think you can get up to the house or do you need me to carry you?" He asks with concern. "I think I can get there, but can you walk with me?" I reply. He nods and helps me out of the car. My knees are weak and shaky. Derek looks at me. I stumble a little. He scoops me up and takes me to the front door, which he puts me down to unlock and then carries me in and lays me on the couch. "Thanks," I say giving him a smile. "Want to watch a movie?" He asks me pulling up a chair. "Sure, what do you want to watch?" I ask. He gets up and walks over to the movie cabinet, pulls something out; puts it in the DVD player and Hitch pops up on the screen. I grin at him. He sits down in the chair. I move my legs and nudge him with my foot, when he looks at me I pat where my feet were and finish sitting up. Derek moves next to me.
The movie ends and Derek and I don't move. "Are you okay now?" he asks. I nod at look at him. "So…" he says. I move up next to him, "Derek? Where am I going to stay? My apartment is burnt to a crisp!" I cry. "Stay with me Casey." Derek replies.
"I couldn't!"
"Yes, you could."
"No I can't you don't get it!"
"Just forget about any reason's could can't and just fallow your gut!"
"Hello I don't do…" I was cut off by Derek's lips. I lean into him and kiss back. God I have wanted this for so long! It feels so good to kiss him again. Everything I that happened today is gone, Derek is all that matters.
Minutes later we brake away. "Casey," he says. "Case," I correct. "Case, I'm sorry I shouldn't have…" I kiss him. "Shut up! What should you have done? Fulfill my on going fantasy?" I ask. All he does is search my eyes to see if I'm telling the truth. "Am I dreaming?" He asks. "I could pinch you." I say. "No, if I am, I don't want to wake up." He says looking me in the eyes. He leans in and gives me a hard kiss.