A/N: Thank you all for the awesome reviews. I was unsure of the kind of feedback I'd get but you guys are awesome. Thank you so much! If ya'll are fans of Twilight, check out my poem "Desire." Anyways, thank you again. You don't know how much reviews mean to me!
2.
The rain was still beating menacingly at the windows as Casey McDonald stared out the glass frame outlining the window seat. She prayed that tomorrow, if by some miracle, the weather would be warm and sunny but she doubted it. Slowly, she traced outlines along the window of little meaningless drawings. She didn't know what compelled her to do it, she had never really been an artist and besides, the practical side of her told her that the drawings would turn into finger smudges by the time the condensation dried. As she continued with her paroxysmal sketches, Nora poked her head through the door.
"Enjoying the window seat?" She asked.
"Mhm," Casey nodded.
"Maybe this place isn't so bad after all now, is it?"
"I still hate Forks, Mom."
"But George is nice, right? And the house is decent? And you have a lovely room. We'll do the redecorating next weekend. This is a small town but a few miles out there's a Wal-Mart and we pick up some things. Did George tell you the decorating allowance?"
"Yeah."
"Okay then," Nora smiled and Casey turned her eyes from the glass reflection of her mother, "Well, we're going to go out to eat for dinner tonight – George's idea. We can all talk and get to know each other a little bit better. There's a pizza place they say is good, Papa Pepperoni's Pizzeria…"
"Yuck."
"Give it a try, Case. You might like it. Just like you might like Forks, if you give it a chance."
"I'll try."
"Great. I talked to George and he enrolled you in Forks High School already. You will start on Monday. If you want, Derek can take you."
"I want to drive myself."
"Sweetie, your car won't be here until next week if all the shipping goes well."
"I want to drive myself."
"Derek isn't a bad person, sweetie," Nora tried to sound optimistic, "Just moody."
"Do you want me to give him a chance too?"
"Is that asking too much?" Nora asked gently.
"I suppose not. Alright, he can drive me but when my car arrives…"
"You'll never have to ride with him again!" Nora smiled, trying to understand and connect with her eldest daughter, "This means a lot to me, Case, that you're doing this."
"Do I have a choice?"
"No but you are handling this better than I thought. I pictured a door being barricaded by a dresser and you sobbing inside."
"The day's still young," Casey's voice was oozing acridity and Nora shook her head impatiently.
"You do know I love you, right?"
"I guess."
"And you love me?"
"Yeah," Casey rolled her eyes, turning to face her mother. She let the slightest glimpse of a smile shine though her hardened exterior.
"Good. Now get changed, honey. We're leaving in twenty minutes!"
After Nora left, Casey pulled herself a way from the window and shuffled through her closet where her nicer clothes were hung and settled on a pale pink turtleneck and her pair of brown cord pants. After slipping on her silver heart necklace and sliding her feet into her dark brown UGG boots, she turned her attention to her hair. It was a mess of waves and she decided on clipping a strand on each side back. After dusting her nose with powder, she christened herself ready as she'd ever be to eat at a place entitled Papa Pepperoni's Pizzeria.
As she descended the stairs, she noticed everyone was already dressed and that she was a tad overdressed. Everyone was in jeans and sweatshirts but Casey decided it wasn't too big of a deal. Besides, how was she to know how people in Forks Washington dressed?
"Won't you be cold?" Marti asked her.
"Oh…" Casey had assumed the thick turtle neck and cord pants would be warm enough."
"I think I have an extra jacket," Derek said, going to the closet by the stairs and rummaging through it until finding a leather jacket that looked too big.
"Thank you," Casey tried to sound civil as Derek handed her the jacket from an extended arm. She noticed he was careful not to get too close. He mumbled something that sounded like "you're welcome" as she slipped it on.
"You look pretty!" Marti smiled up at her new sister.
"So do you Madame Fairy Princess," Casey curtsied before Marti as if she were a real princess.
"Thank you!" The little girl's voice was light and airy and it was clear she had never been so honored in her life to have a girl like Casey bow before her presence.
"Alright, Smarti, up you go!" Derek hoisted the little girl up in his arms, making her giggle and Casey smile. Why could he be so human to a little girl like Marti but so callous to her? Did it have something to do with the room? To be on the safe side, Casey had splashed herself with a few sprays of perfume before coming downstairs so she knew it couldn't be the smell.
"Who's ready for pizza?" George asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Everyone cheered and hurried out through the garage to the SUV George told them he recently bought.
"Needed room for everyone!" He laughed and Nora hung onto his arm like she hung on to every word he spoke.
Lizzie and Edwin were in the second row of seats laughing and getting along wonderfully. Casey climbed into the third row along with Derek and Marti.
"I want to sit in the middle so that way I can sit by both of you!" Marti announced.
"Good idea, Smarti," Derek nodded, "Sit in between us."
Casey wasn't sure if it was just her but she was pretty certain Derek didn't want to be anywhere near her and it was killing her not knowing why.
"Casey, what's your favorite color?" Marti asked.
"Blue," Casey answered without a pause, "And purple."
"Yay!" Marti cheered, "Purple's my favorite too!"
"I noticed. Those were lovely signs you made for our doors, Marti," Casey smiled at the little girl who was bubbling with innocence and joy.
"Thank you! I worked so hard! Smerek helped me cut out the sparkly letters!"
"Well that was very nice of him to do that," Casey attempted a smile in Derek's direction but he merely turned his head and stared out the window.
"He's a great big brother. I think you'll be a great big sister too, Casey!"
"Well I think you'll be a great little sister too, Marti."
After a few more minutes of driving and Marti anxiously babbling away, the SUV pulled up to a restaurant with red neon lighting. Everyone hopped out of the car and scurried inside. The rain was dying down but the cold was sharp and biting against Casey's ivory flesh. She shivered.
"Okay kids, pick out a table!" George grinned. As soon as he had spoken, the Venturi's scattered over to a red vinyl booth next to several arcade games. As Casey scooted towards the end with Marti next and then Derek, she could already tell the plinks and dings of the machines would drive her crazy.
"We'll sit over here," Nora pointed to a booth not far from the one the kids were sitting at, "You guys get to know each other."
"Casey, what's your favorite pizza?" Marti asked.
"Veggie with extra spinach and black olives," Casey answered.
"Yuck!" Derek, Edwin, and Marti replied in unison.
"It's healthy," Casey shrugged, "Alright then, what's your favorite pizza, Derek?"
"Derek doesn't eat pizz…ow!" Edwin winced, "Der-ek!"
"Shut up, Edwin. I don't like pizza."
"You don't?" Casey was puzzled, "Then why did we come here if you can't eat here?"
"The kids like it. Besides, I'll pick something up later."
"Oh, okay," Casey didn't push the subject.
"URP!"
"Edwin!" Lizzie complained, "Disgusting!"
"What? I had to burp…"
"Edwin," Casey rolled her eyes, "Please. There are women present."
"So?"
"And there is a princess," Casey reminded him, "A fairy princess. Don't you know it's impolite to burp in front of a princess?"
"Yeah, Ed!" Marti chimed in, "I could have you banished for that!"
"So, Casey, tell me about Canada," Derek said. His question was surprising. He was the last person Casey expected to ask her anything.
"Oh, it was pretty nice. Lot's of sun, even when it was cold and snowy there was sun."
"I take it you don't like the rain."
"Not a bit. I hate it actually."
"Sorry to hear that."
"Yeah well…" Casey didn't know what else to say.
"I was on the soccer team back home!" Lizzie announced.
"Were you any good?" Edwin asked, "OW!"
"Does that answer your question?" Lizzie asked.
"Girl's got a nice kick," Edwin nodded, still wincing in pain.
"Can I take your order?" A waitress asked.
"I think one large pepperoni, extra pepperoni and extra cheese, and a single-sized veggie pizza for Miss Priss over there, extra spinach, extra olives," Derek ordered. Casey was shocked once again by her new stepbrother. He had remembered her favorite pizza down to the extras. And there she had been thinking he wasn't paying attention to anything.
"Anything to drink?"
"Root beer!" Marti shouted.
"Me too!" Edwin spoke up.
"Five root beers I guess," Derek smiled at the waitress.
"Four," Casey corrected, "I just want water with lemon."
"Could you be any more of a princess?" Edwin asked, rolling his eyes.
"I thought I was the princess!" Marti pouted.
"Oh you are," Derek quickly corrected, "You're a nice princess. Casey is a princess who has to have everything her way or she'll bite off your head."
"I would not!" Casey said defensively, "Marti, you are the princess – the only princess."
"Yay!" The little girl cheered.
Everyone laughed except for Derek and Casey. Casey couldn't help but wonder what his problem was. One moment he'd be all broody and mean and the next he'd be offering her his coat. One moment he'd remember something insignificant she had said, and the next he would be making fun of her. He was a real puzzle. Lucky for her, Casey was good at puzzles and was determined to unravel the enigma that was Derek Venturi.
A/N: Sorry this chapter is short, my mom is calling me to come with her to walk our puppies so I had to cut it short. Don't worry, I'll update really soon.