Okay, I'm getting this story right then. I want to make you all think about that time in between stories. And at the beginning it may seem all over the place and will be confusing, but I know where this story is going, so be patient with me. My warning to you now is that the story is going to jump to certain places, but I promise you it will all connect by the end.
And if anyone, can figure out what the first chapter has to do with the story, please write it down in a review. It will be explained in a later chapter, but I want to see if someone can figure it out now.
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A/N: I DON'T OWN LIFE WITH DEREK
Chapter 3: Casey's Life
The sound of trucks can be heard from an apartment. The blare of horns resonates throughout the apartment. The smell of the sewer system permeates through the opened window. Casey shifts in her bed.
"DEREK!" Casey shouts.
Casey jumps up from bed. She wipes her disheveled hair to the sides and looks over to see someone in bed with her, a young girl, about four years old. She leans down and gives her a gentle kiss on the forehead. The young girl stirs and opens her eyes.
"Mommy? vhat's vrong?" The little girl asks.
"Selena, I'm sorry for waking you up." Casey apologizes.
"It's okay. I vanted bweakfast anyway." Selena says.
"Just like your dad." Casey sighs. "Always eating. Come on let's get something to eat."
Selena jumps out of bed and walks out of the room. The sound of small feet can be heard going into the kitchen. Casey smiles to herself as she watches her daughter run down the stairs. Casey walks to the mirror and looks and sees Derek smirking at her again. An older woman walks into her room.
"Miss McDonald?" The woman asks.
"Yes, Vera." Casey answers.
"Are you coming down for breakfast?" Vera asks.
"Yes, I'll be right there." Casey says.
Casey walks downstairs and sits at the table. The maid, Vera comes in with a platter of fruits, toast, pancakes, and orange juice. Selena comes in with a plate stacked with pancakes. When Selena sit down in her chair she takes the syrup and squeezes half the bottle onto her plate.
"Honey, no. That's too much." Casey scolds.
Selena just ignores Casey and continues to eat her pancakes. Casey can only sigh as she watches her daughter continue to eat. She reminds Casey too much of her father and his eating habits.
The door opens and two people come inside Casey's apartment. They sit down at the table and laugh at Selena as she eats. Casey gets up and gives a hug to to both people. They all take a seat as Casey takes a bite from the orange on her plate.
"So, Casey. You got the report for Lawson?" The man asks.
"Finished it last night." Casey says.
"Great!" The woman sighs.
The man,Harry, is one of Casey's close friends. They first met back in her father's office a few years ago. He was working as a summer intern in her father's office the summer she came to spend with her father before college. He shares many of the same interests as Casey and immediately bonded with Casey and her newborn daughter at that time.
The woman, Sarah, became Casey's friend through Harry. Sarah and Harry were childhood friends that used to live in the same neighborhood. They were separated when her parents' moved to Chicago. Sarah moved back about three years ago and wound up working in the same office as Casey and Harry.
Casey is blessed to have both of them. They have helped her through everything since she has moved. They helped her at work, with her daughter and other adjustments. Without them Casey would have had trouble with her life.
"Hey, Casey? Maybe we should give the report to Lawson. You look like you could use some rest." Sarah says.
"NO! No! I'm fine." Casey say quickly.
"Casey we have known you for the past three years. We know when you are lying and when you are feeling ...." Harry says.
"I have to give the report to him. He was expecting me to complete it. He trusted me with this case." Casey interrupts.
"Casey, no one is doubting your resilience and hardwork. You just need to take a break before you lose yourself." Harry explains.
"What did you say?" Casey asks.
"I said to take a break before you lose yourself." Harry repeats.
Casey let that sentence work its way into her thoughts. She could feel the tears and anger building in her. She had heard that sentence once before and began the chain of events leading to where she was now. She glares at Harry and points her finger at him.
"Don't you ever say I will lose myself." Casey growls. "I know what I need to do. I know what my job entails, and the last thing I need is you telling me I am losing myself."
"Casey. I never said you are lost. You know who you are. Why would you..." Harry says nervously.
"Harry, I'm sorry. How about Sarah, you and me talk about it in the other room." Casey responds calmly.
"So, there is something wrong?" Sarah asks.
"That last time I heard "losing yourself" in any conversation was when I was contemplating breaking up with my boyfriend." Casey explains.
"The one that got you pregnant." Harry says.
"No, it was back in junior year of high school. Right before our football championship game." Casey says.
Flashback:
Casey is pacing back and forth in her room. Nora walks in and sees Casey frantic. Casey is freaking out over the idea she may be allergic to her boyfriend, Max. Nora listens as Casey reads an excerpt from her diary.
"I mean, I know it's kinda pretentious but at least it is thoughtful. And look at my handwriting. It's all slanted and loopy." Casey says worried. "Mom have I turned into an airhead."
"Why because of your handwriting?" Nora asks.
"No, because I'm a cheerleader." Casey responds.
"Honey, cheerleaders aren't airheads." Nora says to comfort Casey.
"I know it's just cheerleading is really time consuming. And maybe I made a mistake dropping debating, and ballet, and the poetry column, and pottery class." Casey says.
"You were doing an awful lot." Nora replies.
"I'm still doing a lot it just all involves Max and his world now." Casey says.
"I just don't feel like myself anymore." Casey realizes.
"You know honey sometimes that happens. But the Casey I know and love has a really strong sense of self. And I know you are going to find you." Nora says.
"Well I going to have to find me later." Casey says.
Casey walks into Derek's room. With her cheerleading outfit on and tissues in hand she asks for a ride to school. Derek having to fulfill his punishment by being nice to the family agrees to take her to school.
"Are you okay?" Derek asks.
"Are you asking because you have to be sensitive or because you really caring?" Casey asks.
"Oh, t-the first one." Derek stutters.
"Well then try and be sensitive to this. I've developed an allergy to Max." Casey explains.
"You're allergic to your boyfriend." Derek laughs.
"You've changed for the better because of him." Derek says.
"Exactly I've changed. But what was wrong with me before?" Casey says.
"Sensitive Derek is not at liberty to answer." Derek says. "Let me ask you this, did he ever ask you to change?"
"No, Max is way too nice to do that. It just kinda happened." Casey says.
"Well then here's an idea. Change back." Derek says.
"Change back? How? Take a break from cheerleading and start writing poetry again..." Casey rants then realizes the answer.
"I'm gonna take a break from cheerleading and start writing poetry again." Casey says. "Yeah that'll do it. Thanks for listening Derek."
End Flashback.
"So you told her to change to her normal self." Eric says. "What happened after that?"
"After torturing me with her poetry that night. She slowly changed back. Over time she was back to her old self and that's when everything started changing." Derek explains.
"When did you realize you had feelings for her?" Eric asks.
"It was a spur of the moment thing. At the time I had to write a song for my girlfriend at the time. Casey had a song written from back when she was going out with Max. I stole it and she told my girlfriend. My girlfriend wanted a song from the heart and I couldn't think of it, because I was never much atune to my feelings. When I was trying to write my version it didn't sound like I was describing my girlfriend." Derek remembers. "So I had to ask Casey to help me. When I performed the song, I listened to the lyrics and BAM! Everything came back to Casey."
"Just like that?" Eric says.
"Just like that. Of course I pushed any feelings for her away for that time being. I continued being a thorn in Casey's side. Then one weekend everything changed..." Derek begins to thnk of the weekend that changed their lives.
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Okay, Casey's life, checked off my to-do list. And now I'll move on with the story. I'm warning you now there will be a few flashbacks, but they are important to the story and will give a better explanation of what happened between Derek and Casey.
READ and REVIEW.