A/N: Sorry for the delay. Next chapter!
I was a little uneasy with the whole bed sharing situation; here I am trying to figure out what exactly it is I feel for Derek, and now we have to share a bed. Not like it meant anything… but I had a feeling it wouldn't help matters much. While Derek did whatever it was he was doing in the bathroom, probably flexing in the mirror or something, I searched for some place to eat later that night.
"Derek." I knocked lightly on the door, "How do you feel about Italian… for dinner." I didn't want to risk getting a smart ass reply back.
"Sounds good." Even though he couldn't see me, I nodded anyway and went in search for a nearby Olive Garden. I was distracted by this task and so didn't realize when the bathroom door had opened and Derek came out. I was sitting on the floor, leaning up against the foot of the bed when he called my name. "Casey."
I jumped and a hand flew to my heart, "Jesus, Derek, you almost gave me a heart attack." He gave me a rueful smile and ran his hands through his hair, like he does when he's considering something. "What? Not interested in Italian?" Derek shook his head.
"Italian is fine." Looking up at him from where I sat, he was staring down at me his expression unreadable. I opened my mouth to ask what the problem was, because something clearly seemed wrong, and he quickly shushed me, kneeling on to the floor so that he was at eye level with me. "Here's the thing Casey, as smart as you are… you're kind of slow." Again, I opened my mouth to protest, but he quickly clamped a hand over it, shaking his head. "Just… let me finish, okay?" his brown eyes, usually so full of confidence, looked a little unsure so I just nodded my head. "I've liked you for a long time, everyone knows, Case. Emily knows, Sam knows, our parents know. And you, the smartest person I know, can't figure out that I've been asking about your stupid ex, who is not worth your time at all, because I wanted to figure out if it was because you liked me like I like you. Which to be honest, is incredibly too much. It drives me crazy how much I think about you, how often I want to reach over and tuck that strand of hair behind your ear, and oh god, how I just want to kiss you." And before I could open my mouth to say anything, or do anything….
His lips were on mine.