Chapter 2 – It flew in?
Needless to say, Casey's night wasn't all that restful. After that comment for Sara before their psych class, Casey was irritated for rest of the day. She remembered being thankful for the fact that after the class ended, Sara and Casey had to go their own ways. There may be something to Sara's question, but Casey didn't want to think about it. There was a high possibility that she wouldn't like the answer, and likely, not be able to face it. Being busy rest of the day with classes and assignments helped. Having a test coming up next week didn't hurt either.
It wasn't like she didn't think about it. Few days after The Night, she kept dreaming of sleeping besides Derek. He didn't snore, or hog the bed or covers. And he was so warm, like her own personal space heater. But since everyone, including Derek, acted pretty normally after, she did too. She didn't want to bring it up again, and even if she did, who would she talk to? Derek wouldn't talk. Her mom and sister would end up thinking it was weird-er then it was, and start worrying about Casey again. Something had to be wrong for Casey to want to, kinda, maybe, sleep with Derek again, right? Not that it was going to happen. Ever.
It was pretty strange, but thinking back, Casey had thought it might have been one of the most restful nights of her life. But then again, everyone was exhausted and they all had a long day. And the following day promised to be a longer one. Yap, they were just really tired.
But today was a new day. (And hopefully a good one.)
"I don't know why and to be honest, I don't think I want to know why. But your stupid question kept me irritated all day, yesterday. So let's just forget it and please, don't ever mention it again." Casey's introductory monologue was met with a Sara's blank face. "Okay, then, shall we get to class?"
At Sara's silent nod, Casey started steering them both towards their class. And about a minute into the walk, Casey broke.
"Okay, I know what you're asking. And I already did my freak out about it back then, so why again? Why now? I mean, it was just a one off. And the entire family viewed our moment. And it was just awkward and embarrassing."
"Your moment?" Sara asked, trying to keep up the crazy Casey, because as everyone knew, when something was important and Casey was confused about it, she'll ramble on and on, keep going in circles, until either someone interrupts her, or she ends up where she started with.
"Not our moment, moment. I mean, what would you call it? Because honestly, it seems just like Derek to make me look bad in front our family. Or in front of anyone really. He gets off on making me miserable. He –"
"Spacy, it's not nice to talk about people behind their back." Interrupted Derek, having to walk up behind the girls in Casey's little rant.
"Hey Derek." Sara said.
"You're behind me. I'm actually talking about you in front of you. What do you want?" Casey asked, after getting her say in.
"Now is that any way to treat your favorite person?" Derek asked, rubbing Casey's back and putting his right arm around her shoulders.
"Uh, as if. And get off." Casey pushed at him, trying to get away.
"Fine," Derek said, pulling away. "But don't think your mother won't hear about this behaviour, Spacy." He walked away.
Sara just stood there for a minute, trying to figure out what just happen. The usual Casey-Derek banter would've continued for at least 10 mins or until one of their friends' dragged them away. She looked at Casey, only to see similar reaction on her face.
A moment later, Casey's head cleared. She gave Sara a look and turned around. "There's something on my back, isn't there?"
WATCH OUT FOR KLUTZELLA!
Sara snickered in amusement as she took off the sign. "Yap. Not very creative."
"Please. You haven't seen anything yet. Be glad he's just putting signs on my back. Once, back in school, he stole all my underwear and bra and hung them up in the school hallway." Casey said, as she threw away the paper after reading what was on it.
"Seriously?" They started walking again.
"I've told you stories. And I don't think that was the worst of it either. I think the pancake syrup all over my clothes, my bed and me, including my hair, wins hands down. On a school day too."
"So what did you end up doing?"
"Wearing his clothes to school. Oh, and ended up finding his student card in the sleeve pocket of his t-shirt."
They've reached their class, and got comfortable for a two hour lecture. Sara looked at Casey, knowing she wasn't going to be able to rest until she asked just one more little question.
"Please, no. You said you'd drop it." Casey signed and made a face having to see the look on her friend's face.
"Actually, you did. But just quick question." Casey made face, Sara continued. "Why do you have that picture on your phone?"
"I honestly don't know."
"I mean, when did you put it in your phone? Don't tell me it flew in." Sara smirked.
"After we got back from the trip, I was uploading all the pictures we took in my computer. I made a CD for the family. But since the pictures were in my computer, I couldn't help but go through them. I found it, and for some reason, I uploaded in my phone. I honestly forgot about it till yesterday." Casey explained.
Sara had her doubts. She didn't think the picture, or "the moment," as Casey called it, has been out of Casey's mind. It's always been in the back corner. The professor came in started the lecture. And Sara couldn't help but wonder what Derek thought about it.
"Let's watch a movie." Sara said, as she met up with Casey at the end of their long day of classes. "I could use something to relax."
"Your version of relaxing movies is watching stuff blow up."
"So? It is relaxing. And fun. You've heard of fun, Casey." As they walked out, Sara spotted Kate. "Hold up, Case. Hey Kate!"
The cute brunette in yoga pants and hot pink t-shirt turned around. "Hey Sara. I'm almost finished with my part of the research."
"I think I'm going to need another day or so. By the way, this is Casey. Casey, this is Kate. We're paired up for a project in one of my science classes." Sara introduced them.
"Hey, nice to meet you." Casey said, shaking Kate's hand.
"You two. You guys done for today?" Kate asked.
"Yap! Thank god, it's been a long day too. I was just telling Casey that we should relax with a movie tonight."
"And her idea of relaxing is watching stuff get blown up." Casey replied with a small head shake and a smile.
"I know what you mean. That's my boyfriend's idea of relaxing." Kate smiled.
Casey smiled too, realizing Kate would be a good friend. "Want to come over? We're probably going to be in my dorm, since I actually have food, unlike Sara here."
"She's a health nut. She'll probably feed you peanuts and yogurt." Sara said.
"I would not!" Casey replied.
"I'd love to. Can I bring my boyfriend? It's been such a busy week, we haven't seen that much of each other." Kate asked.
Casey looked at Sara. She didn't mind bringing girls over to her dorm, but she hadn't had a guy over yet (Derek didn't count in the guy's category. He was a whole different specimen – plus he was there with the family helping Casey move in. Or more like, making comments and doing minimal amount of work to not get in trouble with George and Nora). Especially one she never met, even if he was someone else's boyfriend.
"I don't think –" Casey started, but was quickly interrupted by Sara.
"Hey, why don't we invite Derek? And he can bring a friend. It's a small party of six." Sara said, thinking this was a God-given perfect opportunity, too good to miss up.
"Invite Derek where?" Said the Devil himself.
"Why do you randomly keep popping up everywhere, De-rek?" Casey asked, annoyed that he made her jump in surprise.
"We were thinking about grabbing an action movie at Casey's dorm. Kate's coming with her boyfriend." Sara said quickly.
"Hey Kate, how's it going?" Derek said.
"Hey, D." Kate replied.
"You guy know each other? Is he your boyfriend?!" Casey asked, her voice squeaking by the end of her second question.
"No!" Kate shook her head fast. "John's on the team with Derek. He plays defense."
"Ah." Casey said.
Noticing her distraction, Sara quickly commented. "Lets head to the campus convenience store, grab few chips, drinks, popcorn. Then head to Casey's. Derek, you want to invite another friend?"
"No, wait, I'm sure Derek's really busy. It is Friday night after all, so many parties, so little time, right Derek?" Casey pleaded with her eyes.
Derek gave a smirk, recognizing that look. "Actually princess, I'm completely free. I'm all yours tonight."
"Princess?" Kate asked.
"Long story, I'll fill you in later," Sara replied quietly, while the two step-sibling were busy looking at each other. Smiling, and not wanting to interrupt the moment, Sara just looked at them.
Feeling a little awkward, Kate said, "So…I'll call John?"
Breaking their eye contact, Derek and Casey turned to Kate. "Do that," Derek said, "I'll call Mike." He walked a few ways to make that call.
Kate nodded, and also walked a few away to make the call.
"What just happened?!" Casey asked, nothing the situation at all.
"Come on Casey, you need to relax. It's a movie, food and friends." Sara said as she grabbed Casey's hand and started walking to the store.
How do I get myself into this kind of things? Casey thought as she walked through the small store. John and Mike ended up meeting them at the store, as the location was commonly known to everyone. Plus, if they met up at Casey's dorm, everyone would have to come down to get them. Casey needed to sign everyone in, and she didn't recognize John or Mike. So now, the guys were picking out chips in one isle and the girls were picking up drinks, and Casey was standing in the corner where two isles separate, wondering how she was going to fit everyone in her room.
After checking out the food, Casey insisted on paying of it, since everyone was coming over to her place, and somehow getting back to her dorm, with all the chatter and jokes and laughter, (which was kind of nice, she had to admit), they were all checked in and heading up to her floor.
The elevator opened into a common room, with windows allowing the view of the part of the campus. The room was filled with sofas, tables and chairs, a pool table, and an air hockey table. There were also bean bangs and cushions thrown about. The room was common to the whole floor.
"I have one bed and one chair, so you guys might want to grab few bean bags and cushions." Casey said.
"You're allowed to just take them?" Derek asked. His apartment was very different from Casey's dorm. Casey got a full scholarship, which included dorms. Derek also got a scholarship, for his hockey, and it covered the classes and textbooks, but it didn't cover living accommodations. After research, the family found it would be easier for Derek to live off campus, in two bedroom apartment, where he can split the rant in half. The living expenses turned out cheaper that way. So Derek and Casey really just needed their own money for food.
"Yes, if we have guests over. We just have to make sure to return them once we're done." Casey explained as she scanned her key card in electronic lock.
Casey's room was part of a two bedroom suit found throughout whole building. It had a small common kitchen, common bathroom and two rooms. Casey walked over to the left door. The bed was against the wall on the left, and the small plasma TV was hung on the opposite wall. The long desk was placed against the window wall, going from near the bed, across the entire room, to touching the TV wall. There were shelves on the top of and under the desk, on the side closest to the TV. There was a closet to the right. It was small, but surprising cozy and open.
"Nice organizing, Case." Derek said as he placed himself on the bed, with his back against the wall, and legs stretched out horizontally to the bed. Sara walked in, carrying two small cushions, and got them popped up against the bed on the floor. John walked in carrying the biggest bean bag there was, and popped it near Sara. He pulled Kate against him, once he got comfortable. And Mike settled near the desk on the floor with his own bag.
Casey passed out snacks, drinks and got the popcorns in the microwave, while Sara started the movie. Once the talking stopped, the movie started and everyone was comfortable, Casey looked around for a place to sit. Derek caught her looking around, and gave her a look. Casey signed, and got comfy on her bed besides Derek.
Since everyone was enjoying so much, the movie was turned into double feature. Sometime during the second movie, Kate fell asleep against John. Mike was half passed out on his bag. Casey had passed the popcorn to the floor and was laying down on the bed, in front of Derek, who was already laying down, his head popped on his hand.
Sara was enjoying the movies, but wasn't so engrossed that she wasn't aware of what was happening on the bed behind her.
Casey eyes glossed over and a little while later, she was asleep. Derek moved his right arm around her middle and turned completely sideways, leaning against the wall as well, and continue to watch the movie. Derek didn't realize where his arm was, or the fact that ever so often, he would stroke his chin on Casey's temple. But Sara did.
Derek's eyes open when it got dark of all a sudden, and he looked around. It was late, and everyone was up, heading out quietly.
You staying? Sara mouthed. Seeing how Derek had been passed out for good hour, she didn't think he would want to move. And good thing that before they turned off the TV, she had taken a picture of Derek and Casey asleep on her bed. Derek's left arm served as her pillow, again, and his right was around her middle. Though the covers were bundled up at the foot the bed, Derek and Casey seemed pretty cozy, their bodies touching from head to toe. Once in a lifetime, uh Casey? Sara thought.
Derek nodded. And once everyone was out the door (it had electric lock, so as soon as the door closed, it would lock – meaning Derek wouldn't have to get up to lock the door.) Derek placed his head back on Casey's pillow, and pulled her even closer. Finally, was his last thought as he nuzzled her neck, and everything went dark.