A/N: Sorry to all my devoted fans for the long delay in updates. I've been busy trying to get things together with my new job (which is now in full swing), plus things on the home front are still crazy as ever. Hopefully, this chapter won't disappoint all you devoted fans. Kinda ran into a little writer's block as well, since I've spent a lot of time debating much longer I want to drag the story out and what direction I wanted it to take. I will say this - it won't be going in the same way I had it going when I first thought up the story concept. Dasey fans need not despair - that part of the story's safe.
Hopefully, it won't take me long to do the next chapter, but you never know. Thanks in advance for showing patience.
Disclaimer: I don't...aw hell, you should know by now.
Now, on with the show!
(Thursday evening – 6:35 P.M.)
"Smelly Nelly's? This is your idea of going out?" Casey asked as her and Derek walked in through the door of the restaurant.
"Well, I think I'm back to my senses, so I guess I can I can take you back home…" Derek started.
"No, no, no, no" she protested, grabbing him by the arm. "I'm going to milk this opportunity for all it's worth."
Both teens walked to an open booth in the back corner. A minute later, a young blonde came walking up.
"Derek. Great to finally see you back around here" the girl said.
"Sally, don't tell me work has been that bad without me around" Derek said.
"Ugh, it's been boring the last two weeks without you here" Sally said.
"Well, my problems have been solved and I shall be back next week to kill the boredom curse."
Sally just smiled at the cocky attitude Derek was exuding. She then glanced over at Casey. "Uh, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Oh. Sally, Casey. Casey, Sally."
"Der-ek" Casey snapped. "Forgive his behavior. I'm Casey McDonald."
"Sally Todd. Pleased to meet you." Sally extended her hand, which Casey shook politely. "So, what can I get you two to drink?"
"Water, please" Casey said.
"Coke will be fine" Derek added.
"Alright, I'll be right back with your drinks." With that, Sally walked off, leaving Casey and Derek to themselves.
"She seems nice. When did they hire her?" Casey said.
"They hired her after some crazy girl named Riley got mad at the manager and quit" Derek said with a smirk.
Casey shook her head at the memory of telling off the manager (who treated her rather poorly) and walking out the restaurant, with Derek not too far behind. "I still can't believe that you came back here so quickly…on second thought, I should."
"Well, I had to make some money legally since after your little scare with my merchandising adventure at school" Derek replied.
"I still don't know how you talked me into helping you with that" she said, shaking her head again. However, Derek couldn't help but notice the small grin on her face.
"Look, I know I do stupid stuff all the time. You're supposed to be the one that's smart enough not to go along with my plans."
"I guess that the offer of a cell phone and my own locker was too good to resist" Casey replied with a chuckle. "So, Sally seems pretty nice, and pretty…"
"She's got a boyfriend, if you're wondering why I haven't gone after her yet" Derek said, cutting Casey off.
"Ah" was all she said in return.
Mentally, Derek couldn't help but think about the current situation. 'Wow, I can't believe that Casey and I are getting along great. No jokes, yelling, throwing of various items…and truth be known, this is actually rating up there with the start of some of my good dates…wait, what was that last part?'
Derek's thoughts were interrupted by Sally returning with their drinks. "Okay, here we go. Now are you two ready to order?"
As Casey and Derek gave their orders, he couldn't help but notice that Sally kept looking at the two of them, smiling sweetly. Honestly, it unnerved him a little bit. Why was she smiling so much at them? Dinner went surprisingly well for the two of them. There was none of the usual things that went along with a dinner that involved Derek and Casey. They were actually eating their food instead of throwing it at each other, joking about others instead of jokes about the other one's misfortunes, and – God help us – actually carrying on decent conversation with each other.
As dinner was finished, Casey wiped her mouth off with a napkin while Derek was taking a giant gulp of drink. Sally then walked up to the table.
"So, did you guys enjoy the food?" Both teens nodded at Sally's question. "Great. So Derek, can I get you and your girlfriend any dessert?" Derek nearly choked on a mouthful of drink, while Casey stared at Sally like she grew another head. Sally instantly quit smiling, wondering why they were acting like that.
Casey managed to find her voice first. "I'm not his girlfriend. I'm his stepsister."
"What? You're…oh God, I'm so sorry!" Sally blurted out.
"It's okay" Derek let out between gasps of breath. "Check please."
"Uh sure" Sally said as she quickly scribbled something on the check and handed it to him.
"Ready?" he quickly asked Casey.
"Yeah" she replied quickly, grabbing her coat in a hurry to get out of the restaurant. As she got up, she failed to notice the waiter that was walking by with a tray full of drinks.
Derek just cringed as arms, legs, and drinks went flying everywhere.
(7:35 P.M.)
The car ride back from Smelly Nelly's was a very quite affair. As Derek pulled the car into the driveway, he and Casey looked like they were sitting on pin cushions. As he placed the car in park and switched it off, he couldn't help but think back on the events that transpired at the restaurant. Suddenly, he found himself breaking out into giggles.
"What's wrong?" Casey asked, giving him a weird look. That look sent Derek over the edge, as he broke out into full blown fits of laughter.
"That…was…the…weirdest…and…funniest…thing…I…ever…saw!" Derek said between his fits of laughter.
"It wasn't that funny!" she protested.
"Yes it was!"
"Der-ek!"
"I'm sorry! I can't help it!" Just as soon as his laughter started to calm down, Casey suddenly broke out into laughter. For a couple of minutes, the sound of laughter filled the car.
Finally, both teens started to calm down. "Oh God, I hope nothing like that happens again" she says.
"Which part? The one where you got showered in drinks or where we got mistaken for boyfriend and girlfriend" he replied. He could've sworn that Casey was actually thinking about it.
"The boyfriend/girlfriend fiasco was bad, but at least that was mostly between us. The pile-up with the waiter was in front of God and everyone in the place." Derek was surprised by her comment. She thought having a ton of drinks poured on her was worse than having someone mistake her stepbrother as her boyfriend?
'I'll worry about that later. Things are just getting too weird' he thought. "Well, I guess we better head on in before everyone starts wondering where we are."
"You're right. Besides, I've got to finish my paper for English." With that, both teens got out of the car and started walking to the front door. As they reached the front door, both teens stopped and looked at each other.
Derek shifted under the awkward silence. For him, this felt like the end of a date. The part where he kisses the girl before she goes inside for the night. "Uh, Case…"
Before he could even finish, Casey reached out and hugged him. "Thanks for dinner. That was really sweet."
Derek hated that 'sweet' word. "Just don't tell anybody that I'm actually being nice to you."
Casey pulled out of the hug. Derek was sure she was going to yell at him for ruining the moment, but instead was surprised to see her smiling. "I know, because heaven only knows what damage that will cause to your rep."
"Uh, yeah. Let's go with that" he said with a smirk. With that, he opened the front door and both teens entered the house. George and Nora, who had been sitting on the couch watching TV, perked up as the two entered the door.
"Casey, Derek, where have you two been?" Nora asked as they slipped off their coats.
"We went out to eat" Derek replied.
Nora noticed the wet spots on Casey's clothes and in her hair. "Casey, what happened?"
"I, uh, ran into one of the waiters" was her sheepish reply.
"Poor guy didn't know what hit him. Thanks for getting me out of work Dad, otherwise that could've been me." Derek braced himself as three heads snapped in his direction and yelled out "Derek!" in unison. He took a couple of seconds to analyze their faces. Of course, his dad and Nora were obviously ticked off, but it was Casey's expression that threw him off. She still glared at him, but it wasn't the usual death glare that she gave him. There was actually a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Well, I'm going to go clean up and get my homework done." With that, Casey turned around and headed up the stairs.
"So, you two didn't destroy the restaurant while you were out?" George asked.
"I must admit Derek, you are becoming a rapid underground success with getting along with my children" Nora said.
"Shocking, isn't it? Maybe in 25 years, I'll be able to hug her in broad daylight" Derek replied back.
"I'm not going to hold my breath for it" George said. His comment earned him a glare and an elbow nudge to the ribs from Nora. "What?"
Derek laughed at this exchange before heading into the kitchen to grab a drink. As he pulled a drink out of the refrigerator, he was stopped by his dad at the kitchen door.
"So, your coach called me today and told me your good news."
"I so excited that I made a total ass of myself in the hallway" Derek said.
"Well, I hope that you've learned your lesson."
"Yep, if I get in a bind, beg Casey to help me out."
"Derek…"
"I'm kidding Dad. Although I should thank you for the idea of having Casey help me." A few moments of silence passed between father and son. Derek noticed that George seemed to be thinking about something. Whatever it was, it caused George to give an uneasy smirk. "Dad?"
"Yeah."
"What are you thinking about?"
George seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering. "Nothing, really. Nervous about tomorrow?"
"Honestly, with all of this stuff happening recently, I haven't had the chance to be nervous."
"Well, you need to get some sleep. I'm pretty sure that you'll be back to your normal game day self tomorrow."
"I hope not. Well, goodnight Dad" Derek said as he exited the kitchen.
(Friday morning – 2:30 A.M.)
Derek tossed and turned in his sleep, dreaming about how tomorrow night after the game would play out:
"Smerek, you were amazing!"
"That was amazing!"
"I can't believe that you scored the final goal with just 15 seconds left!"
"Great job, son!"
As the McDonald-Venturis walked into the house, everyone was excited about Derek's game. His team had beaten one of the best teams in the province of Ontario. He had played one of the best games of his hockey career. The entire family even overheard some of the scouts talking about him in the parking lot after the game. Everyone couldn't help but showering him with congratulations. None probably better than the one Casey gave him while the rest of the family was walking into the dining room and kitchen with backs turned.
"You were amazing tonight, Derek" she whispered before planting a small kiss on his cheek and joining the rest of the family in setting the table for dinner.
After a celebratory dinner that involved pizza, soda, and some comments about Derek's currently state of hygiene ("Derek, please keep your arm down before you kill us."), Derek decided a nice, hot shower would be a great way to loosen up before getting on his computer to read all the fan e-mails that was probably flooding his inbox after a big game. As he headed into the bathroom, he noticed everyone else was settling in for the night.
As he turned on the shower and let the hot water run over him, Derek could feel his muscles relax and the soreness starting to ease in his body. "Damn, that game was rough tonight" he murmured to himself. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open as two arms wrapped around him and a feminine body pressed against his back.
"Awww, poor baby. I was hoping we could continue to celebrate" Casey whispered into Derek's ear.
"Casey, what are you doing in here?" he asked in a whisper of his own.
"Everyone else is in bed, and I wanted some time alone with my MVP."
"Case…"
"Please?" she whined. Derek turned to see Casey looking at him with sad, soulful eyes and with her lips rolled out.
"God, I hate when you do that" he said, turning around and pulling her in closely.
"Why?"
"Because you know I can't resist that." With that, both teens engaged in a passionate kiss. Seconds later, Casey found her back pressed against the shower wall, with Derek reaching his hands behind her thighs to pull her up against him. Casey let out a deep moan as she felt him pressed up against him.
Derek awoke with a start. "Damn it" he muttered to himself. "I've got to stop having these dreams. I'm going to lose my edge for tonight's game." With that, he laid himself back down, trying to focus his thoughts off of Casey and on the game tonight. 'Although, I wouldn't mind getting a celebration like that if I could.'
He would eventually wish he had kept his thoughts on Casey and off of the biggest game of his life.
(9:30 A.M.)
Derek was trying to get his breathing under control as he walked down the school hallway. Sure enough, his dad was right about his pre-game jitters returning, as the sound of Derek puking served as the joyous wake-up call for the top two floors of the McDonald-Venturi house. Then, when he got to school, he noticed more stares and whispers from people than normal. 'Guess everyone realizes how big a game this is for me' he though as he stopped at his locker.
"Yo Derek! You ready for tonight?!" Sam said as he and Ralph walked up to their friend's locker.
"I suppose" Derek replied, hoping that his nausea wouldn't return.
"By the way, how was your date last night?" Ralph said.
Derek looked up with a confused expression on his face. "Huh?"
"Your date with Casey last night" Ralph replied with a huge grin.
"So, looks like things are looking up for the two of you" Sam said.
"One, there isn't anything going on between Casey and me – yet. Second, where the hell did you get that from?!" Derek snapped, with eyes as wide as saucers.
"Some people said that you and Casey were at Smelly Nelly's last night" Sam said.
"We went there for dinner after I got home from practice. What's the big deal?"
"They said that you two were by yourselves, actually getting along, and having a good time. They also said something about Casey running into a waiter because you two were in a hurry to leave and be alone some more" Sam said. Derek just stood there with his mouth hanging open. So, people actually thought that he was on a date with Casey? He could feel his blood running cold. First, the fantasies were eating him alive. Now, people think that they went on a date together?
'Fucking morons – can't mind their own fucking business. Oh God – that's why all those people are staring and talking…' Derek thought to himself. That nauseated feeling was starting to return. "Oh shit. Excuse me" was all he said before taking off in a dead sprint to the bathroom.
(10:55 A.M.)
Emily was trying to hurry to her next class. Nothing out of the ordinary, one would think. Try telling that to Emily Davis after being snatched into the bathroom against your will by an unseen set of hands.
"What the hell is going on?!" she blurts out as the bathroom door slams shut behind her. Those same set of hands whipped her around to reveal a very freaked out Casey McDonald. "Casey…"
"Em, I have a very, very big problem!"
"Look, I know it's unusual for you to forget an assignment, but…"
"No, it's not that!" Casey let out. "I overheard someone in class talking, and they said that, that…"
"What?"
"That I went out on a date with…with…oh my God, I am so screwed!" Casey let out, almost on the verge of tears.
"What's the problem?" Emily asked, slightly annoyed.
"Emily! People are saying that I went out with Derek! Not a Derek – the Derek!" her best friend replied.
Emily's eyes widened in shock at this revelation. Wait – where was she when this rumor started? "Oh my God! Are you serious?!" For several seconds, she couldn't comprehend what Casey was babbling about. Finally, she grabbed her friend and held to where they were looking each other in the eyes. "Calm down. Now slowly, tell me what's going on."
Casey took a couple of deep breaths to regain her composure before beginning. "People are saying that they saw Derek and me on a date at Smelly Nelly's."
"Well, is it true?"
"No! I mean, we went to dinner, but…but…oh God!" Casey started before breaking down into sobs. Emily immediately grabbed her into a hug.
"Case, I'm sure that it's just a misunderstanding" Emily said, trying to comfort her.
"It's not that Em. I mean, sure, people are confusing the situation, but I can't help what I feel."
Emily pulled back a little, giving her friend a confused look. "Casey, is there something that you're not telling me?"
"Sure, I mean he's my stupid, annoying stepbrother, but lately I've seen a different side of him. That night at the party, working with him to get that paper done, and last night, I found myself wishing it was a real date – wishing that I could've kissed him afterward."
"What?!"
"Emily, I think I'm falling for Derek."
As Casey broke down into sobs again, Emily couldn't help but imagining what was going through her friend's mind. Casey was probably worrying about how everyone at school would consider her a freak, her parents would disown her; and a lot of other stuff, and – most importantly – how Derek would react if he were to find out. 'These two have so much more in common than they would admit' she thought to herself. Drawing a deep breath, Emily decided it was time to tell Casey what she knew. "Casey, there's something you should know."
A/N: Again, hope this chapter meet your satisfaction. So, turns out Derek isn't the only one undergoing psychological warfare. The question is - how deep does the rabbit hole go for Casey? Also, will Derek and his team win the big game? Tune in to find out.
Don't forget to keep reviewing.
Much love
- the OD