Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Life with Derek or any of its characters. And it is a darn shame.
I woke up feeling warm and safe. As I opened my eyes, I realized what I was feeling. Derek's arm was under my neck and wrapped around my back, I had my head on his chest, an arm around his stomach and one leg intertwined with his. His other arm was on top of mine, warm and protective. Lifting my head slightly, I realized he was still sleeping, his breaths slow and even. I watched him for a moment, a smile forming on my lips. Eventually, though, my bladder won the battle and I had to disentangle myself from the man that I had spent a very long time kissing last night. I crept into the bathroom as quietly as I could on the wood floors, shutting the door slowly. When I was finished, I stood staring at myself in the mirror. The bathroom was cold without Derek's arms around me to keep me warm. My lips were still a little swollen from the time we'd spent kissing last night, my cheeks were pink, and my hair mussed. I looked… comfortable, not at all like the type of well put together girls that Derek normally dated. What was he thinking? Then again, he wasn't exactly my usual type either. And those relationships never lasted, so maybe that was a good thing? I sighed and splashed some water on my face before stepping out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. Derek was still asleep—that was no surprise, the man slept like the dead—he had rolled over onto his side, though. Asleep, he looked so peaceful and I felt the corners of my lips twitching upward. Any doubts I might have been feeling in the cold of the bathroom were washed away with one look at him. There was a lot that I was worried about, about how this would end, how we could possibly work so well together, and I felt a billion other thoughts racing through my head as I started to overthink everything. I realized, though, that I wanted nothing more than to be there in his arms, no matter what way this ended.
Quietly I crawled back into the bed and even in his sleep, Derek found a way to wrap his arm around me and I snuggled up to him.
"Morning." He mumbled into the back of my head.
"Good morning." I whispered, knowing he was still half asleep. He hugged me tighter and I thought he had fallen back asleep so I closed my eyes, even though I couldn't possibly fall back asleep.
"It's early." He grumbled into my hair and I laughed wiggling in his arms.
"It's the time most normal people get up." I teased.
"It's summer." He protested and I laughed again. Behind me I felt him sitting up, one arm still draped over me and the other being used to hold his head up. I turned a little so I could face him. "I love hearing you laugh." He murmured his eyes bright and awake. It wasn't so much the words that took my breath away, but the way he looked at me and how intensely he said it. I can't recall a time I've seen him be so sincere… except a few days ago in the car. He looked like he wanted to say more but instead, he leaned forward and gently kissed my lips.
I no longer held any doubts as I returned the affection.
The rest of our road trip passed by rather uneventfully; we made our stops, sometimes sharing tourist sights, occasionally going our own way. We held hands when we were together. We kissed, we talked, and honestly too. We shared a room, and a bed, cuddled together every night. By the time we arrived to Trinity University, we had what could potentially be a blossoming relationship.
He held my hand as we watched lines of people unpack our cars and take things to our separate rooms. We were in the same freshmen building, but one floor apart. "Too bad they won't do this every year." I murmured. They had some tradition where volunteer students helped you move in on Move-In Day and it was beautiful. All we had to do was carry something light up to our room and collect our keys. My roommate had yet to arrive, but Derek had already met his and it looked like they were going to get along pretty well. He leaned over and kissed my cheek.
"I'll help you move in anytime, Case." He said into my ear and his close proximity, the warm of his breath, it made me shiver. I smiled.
"Good." I laughed and our hands let go.
"I know you're eager to get organized and unpacked, so I'll go procrastinate in my own room and we can meet up later." I laughed again and nodded. He leaned in for another kiss. "I'm going to miss sleeping next to you." Derek murmured his voice low. There was something in his eyes and it took me a second to realize what that look was. There was the affection I'd grown used to seeing, but the lust I hadn't expected and it made my cheeks flush. He grinned and kissed my warm cheeks. "See you later, Case." I nodded and turned toward my open door surveying the room I had been given.
"It's not much, is it?" I heard a vaguely familiar voice ask. I turned, coming face to face with a blonde that was becoming far too familiar.
"Joe." I greeted with much surprise.
"Casey." He returned with a chuckle then pointed to the suite next to mine. "I guess we're neighbors." I nodded, feeling my face pale.
"I thought you were going to St. Mary's?" I asked, still sounding surprised. He shrugged.
"I transferred. I'd been accepted, I'd just decided on St. Mary's, but a lot of paperwork later and here I am. I certainly hadn't expected to be living right next to you, though." I forced a smile, nodding. I hadn't expected to run into him at all.
"Well, I need to unpack." I muttered with a gesture toward my mess of a room.
"Right, right, of course. See you around, Casey." My lips pressed tight I forced another smile as he departed back to his own room. Great. I turned into my room, shutting the door behind me. It wasn't ideal but I was determined not to let it ruin my semester or whatever was building between Derek and me.
A/n: I'm considering actually ending relatively soon and instead doing a sequel since they're no longer on the road trip. Thoughts? You guys and gals help make the story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.