I DO NOT OWN LWD!!!!!

Chapter Five:

New found feelings

-------------------------------------------Kaylie-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Things were going a lot easier than I thought. Dean was fun to have around ( he's different without the other guys), he was always making jokes about what was being said. Of course this made all the girls laugh. Yes, all of the girls, he was the only guy there. It was amusing to watch him learn how to sew baby blankets for the care packages we were going to make and send to children in Africa.

Honestly, how many guys do you know who would do this? I've been planning this for more than a year and never once could I get Derek involved and here was one of his best friends sitting here and helping out.

Dean, asked about the project the other day when he heard me and Derek discussing it. When I told him what I was doing he got this look on his face and confessed that he has always wanted to do something like this. When he called and asked if he could participate and help out I was so incredibly happy. Just when I was giving up on Derek someone close to him steps in instead, it's funny how these things work out. A part of me felt guilty though. I probably should have told Derek that Dean was going with me but I hang out with them so often that it never crossed my mind that it would be such a problem.

" You know, if you don't pay attention you're going to sew your hand up." Dean was standing in front of my table.

" Oh, right." I was at one of the sewing machines and my hand was getting dangerously close to the needle.

" You alright? You seem distracted." He smiled down at me.

" Yea, thanks for asking though." I smiled at him and then went back to work.

" What are friends for?" I saw him grin and walk away from the corner of my eye.

I must have sewn a hundred blankets by the time it was dark. Most of the girls had left but I stayed along with Dean and a couple of others. Dean was on the other side of the room counting up all the blankets we had made and the others were starting to clean up. I stretched wincing because of my bruised shoulder, I began to clean up as well.

When that was done I walked over to Dean, who was putting the blankets into large bags.

" Did you have fun?" I asked helping him.

" I did actually. It was hard not to." He smiled at me.

" That's good. I felt bad leaving alone you with all the girls though." We finished putting the blankets away.

" Oh, it's not a problem, Really." He laughed.

" Alright, I hope you don't mind but I kind of have to take all these home." I pointed at the multiple bags we had.

" That's not a problem. Let's go." He smiled grabbing some bags.

------------------------------------------------------Casey---------------------------------------------------------------

After the spat Derek and I had at the park, I pretty much stayed in my room studying until supper time. It was one of few times where we actually ate together, well except that Kaylie wasn't back yet. Not even ten minutes after we sat down for dinner there was a knock on the door. Lizzie ran and opened it.

" Derek?" I said.

" Derek! Hi, I'm sorry we weren't expecting you." Mom said.

"Oh hey, oh that's okay. Is Kaylie here?" He asked.

" No, she isn't back yet." Mom answered.

" Why don't you wait until she gets back. Come sit with us." Greg said.

" Uh sure." Derek said, I could tell he was annoyed that Kaylie hadn't returned.

Lizzie glanced at me as she and Derek sat down. He was across from me, where Kaylie usually sat and he smiled weakly at me. Greg and my Mom started talking to him about hockey conditioning and if he was looking forward to school starting in two weeks. I sat there and tried to ignore the sound of his voice and the glances he was probably giving me.

He was still there after dinner and even Mom was asking about Kaylie now. I was in the kitchen washing dishes, tonight was Kay's turn but because I'm a nice person I am doing it instead.

" Can I help?" Derek came up beside me.

" I don't know, Can you?" I asked sarcastically tossing a dish towel at him for drying.

It was silent for a few minutes before he started speaking.

" Look, I'm sorry about earlier today." He mumbled.

I turned to him about to give him a piece of my mind but I made the mistake of looking him the eyes. Those brown gorgeous eyes, and for whatever reason I couldn't yell, and I wasn't mad or upset anymore. He had this look, like he was genuinely sorry, like he made the worst mistake of his life. I couldn't understand.

" It's not a big deal, it was a silly comment." I said keeping eye contact.

" No, it is a big deal. I yelled at you when you didn't deserve it." His face softened and it looked like he was going to reach out and touch my cheek. Although he had stopped himself and his hand was suspended in midair, maybe this was all my imagination.

That's when the front door swung open and a laughing Kaylie stumbled in, followed by a grinning Dean. Derek dropped his hand suddenly and started drying the already dry plate he picked up.

" Hey, you guys. What took you so long?" I walked into meet them.

" Hey, Case. Sorry, it took longer than expected but we got so much done!" She explained setting down two huge garbage bags next to the four others Dean carried in.

" I see that." I smiled. " You guys want ice cream or something?"

" No, I better get going." Dean said his goodbyes and left, but not before smiling at Kaylie.

" I'll take some. I'm starved, did you guys leave me any food?" She asked following me into the kitchen.

" No, I ate it all." Derek said now placing bowls on the counter next to the ice cream.

" Why are you here?" She asked.

" I came here to apologize but you weren't here. Of course if you don't want me to, I can just leave." He headed for the back door.

" No!" She jumped in front of him." Please stay, we even have ice cream." She beamed.

" Okay, I'll stay but only because you asked." He laughed wrapping his arm around her waist and walking towards the ice cream.

I sat there watching them the entire time, watching the sweet side of Derek. Which was indeed rare, especially around me. Kaylie would ask me questions every now and then, trying to get me involved but her and Derek mostly talked and got cuddly. Only after Derek's apology, of course.

From what I knew about Kaylie and Derek was that they met during school, when she first moved to here five years ago. Kaylie's Mom had died that year and didn't have any friends. I think that was about the time that Derek's parents we thinking about divorcing and that's how they found each other. After Derek found out that Kaylie was a big hockey buff they instantly became best friends. In pictures, you would always see her, Derek and Sam together laughing and usually always playing hockey. When Kaylie first joined the Mormon church she was a freshman in high school, that was about the time that Mom married Greg. It was hard finding people who supported her, Mom and Greg didn't like the idea of her being a member and Liz and I honestly didn't care enough. Although, even when her own Dad didn't support her, Derek did. Of course so did Sam but not like Derek, he was always there to help when he could. I remember walking in to her room when I heard her crying one day to find Derek rocking her back and forth telling her that things would get better. That she didn't have to be ashamed for something she believed in.

This is the Derek I wish I knew, but I know that it would never happen. After that Derek and Kay were never apart. They started dating out Junior year and Derek had almost become nicer, at least towards me. I knew that it was only for Kay's sake, but nicer still...

" Hello?! EARTH TO CASEY." Kaylie was waving her hand in front of my face.

" Uh, what?" I asked looking away from the wall I found so fascinating.

" You okay? You've been staring at that wall for the past hour." She said giving me a worried look.

" Oh, I was just thinking." I stood up putting my melted ice cream in the sink.

" It looked like some pretty intense thinking. Even Derek asked if you were okay." She said following me around as I cleaned up the rest of the kitchen.

" Yea, I'm sorry." I said.

" It's cool. Just what were you thinking about?" She asked.

" Umm, about this guy that I like." I turned and looked at her nervously.

" A guy? Who is it?" She asked, curious and excited for me.

" Just this guy that I know. I really like him but he has this amazon girlfriend. I was just thinking about how happy they are together and that it's better if I just stay out of it." I said honestly.

" Do you think that's the best idea? I don't think you should give up so easily. You never know how things will work out. They could break up." She said trying to cheer me up.

" That's the thing though, a part of me doesn't want them to break up. A couple such as have known each other for so long, and have such a connection that it would be wrong for me to interrupt that. You might as well have never invented hockey because with out it... they never would have found the happiness they share together." I confessed, tears filling my eyes. I knew I had said too much so I ran upstairs, slamming my door behind me.

------------------------------------------Derek---------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was late and I had gotten bored of listening to music, I didn't even want to talk to Sam. He had called wanting to know if we going hang tonight, and I just told him I had things I needed to do tomorrow and couldn't. To be honest, I wanted to be with someone else. I hated myself for it because it wasn't Kaylie. It was Casey.

When we were in her kitchen earlier I knew I was going to kiss her. I almost did, but I had to stop myself. What kind of a boyfriend would I be to cheat on my girlfriend? That is not the Venturi way. It would be better if I broke up with Kaylie, but it would hurt her when I ask out Casey. Besides I know that Casey would never go for me, even if I thought I saw a hint of longing in her eyes when she was looking at me. I knew that if I were to break Kaylie's heart Casey effeminately wouldn't date me. It was a vicious cycle that my mind was set into and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt Kaylie.

It's better if I just forget my feeling for Casey.

" What have I gotten myself into?" I asked myself.

Turning over on my bed, I sighed into my pillow. Waiting and hoping sleep would come soon.

------------------------------------------------Kaylie--------------------------------------------------------------------

I was still thinking about what Casey had said to me a few weeks ago. Nothing had really changed, except it seemed as if Casey was avoiding something. I knew it wasn't me, but every time the guys were over she would stay in her room or leave. The same with Derek to, he would always ask me to hang out at his house, or somewhere else.

School had started up again so it didn't seem like a big deal. There seemed to be a routine almost, Casey and I would drive to school together then hang out during school and part afterwards. The only normalcy in my life were the weekend when Dean would come over and hang out, usually when Derek was with his Mom and all, just before the others would show up and then we would all leave to play hockey or something. Even though I wasn't supposed to be playing, I couldn't help myself. I was starting to feel lonely, in some ways, I didn't have a girl to talk to anymore because Casey and I didn't talk much anymore. I was fed up with it so today I was going to demand some time alone with my step-sister, even if she didn't like it.

So today after school, I told Derek that I was going to hang with Casey.

" Look, we never talk anymore and it's driving me crazy. So I am demanding a girls day!" I announced to Casey as we got into the car.

" I know, that is why I planned a spa day." She smiled widely at me.

" Really?!" I squealed.

" Yes, really." She laughed at my rare girly moment.

" Great! I can't tell you enough how much I have needed this. My shoulder has been so sore that it needs two spa days all on its own."

" I forgot! It won't hurt will it?" She asked driving towards the new spa place that opened.

" I'm sure, I'm mostly stiff." I said turning on some tunes.

" Good because we are going to have so much fun!" She beamed.

This day turned out way better than I expected. Could things get any better?

SORRY THE LAST CHAPTER WAS SO LAME. HOPEFULLY THIS ONE IS MUCH BETTER!

MORE TO COME!

LOVES, AVA