Okay, I'm very sorry about the long delay. Thanks for all the reviews and now I hopefully have my mind clear enough to finish this story.
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A/N:I DON'T OWN LIFE WITH DEREK
Chapter 5: Fun in the City
A/N: Derek's thoughts are in italics
"Wow, this place is amazing!" Derek says in awe.
"Yeah, this is where I would spend all summer after school." Eric says. "Just wait, you have a lot of stops to make before you can leave this place."
"Okay? And how am I suppose to fit all of these places into our schedule when we only have a few days to spend in the city." Derek questions.
"That's the thing, you have to come back to visit everything in New York." Eric explains. "Come on, and I'll introduce you to my friends."
Derek and Eric arrive at an apartment building. Eric starts running up the flights of stairs. Derek trails him by one level and by the time they reach the door to room both are out of breath. Eric laughs as Derek leans against the wall, trying to regain his breath. Eric knocks on the door and a man's voice can be heard.
"Ricky! Good to see ya, bro!" The guy that opens the door says.
"Bro?" Derek asks.
"So this is the player that keeps you awake all hours of the night?" Eric's brother asks.
"EX-PLAYER!" Derek shouts. He looks back to Eric. "Dude? Bro?"
"Yeah, Derek Venturi, this is my brother, Robby; his friends, Mark, John, and Tim; and the only girl in this group of friends, Stacy." Eric says introducing everyone in the room.
Derek shakes everybody's hands. They laugh when Robby ruffles Derek's hair. Derek turns his attention to the girl. She is about his height with deep blue eyes, short brown hair with light highlights, and wearing a dress suit, obviously coming to the apartment straight from work. When Derek extends his hand to greet Stacy, he immediately sees Casey instead.
"Ca...Casey?" Derek chokes.
"No, her name is Stacy." Robby says.
"Excuse me for one minute." Derek whispers.
Derek exits the apartment and walks to the stairway. He sits there and takes out his wallet. He looks at a picture of Casey and finds it hard not to feel guilt about Casey. He feels a lump form in his throat and a rumbling in his stomach. He feels sad over everything that has happen in the past 5 years.
"Derek?" Eric says. "Are you alright?"
"No, that girl in there...." Derek begins.
"What about Stacy?" Eric asks.
"She reminds me so much of my girl, Casey. Everything about her reminds me of Casey." Derek confesses.
"Dude, are you ready to talk about what happened." Eric says.
"No, I'm not ruining this weekend for us. Let's enjoy it and we'll talk when we get back to school." Derek says.
"Okay?" Eric says.
Derek and Eric go back into the room and talk about school and other things in their lives. They tell stories of their childhood, school days, and other fun events that have happened to them. Derek watches how Robby and Eric act like friends more than brothers.
Later they all venture out to a small pizza shop in the neighborhood. Derek tells a story of when his father made pizza for a special occasion and he had to call the fire department because the kitchen nearly burned to the ground.
"I'm not joking. The police officers got a good laugh and the firefighters were giving my dad the evil eye. We made it a point after that night that we would order dinner or have my stepmother, Nora, cook." Derek tells the group. "But, after that slice. I may have to move here, because I don't think any of my family's meals can top this." The group laughs at him.
"So, bro do you want to come with us to the Rangers game tomorrow?" Robby asks.
"Of course. You know I love the lounge box you got." Eric says.
"SWEET, LOUNGE BOX!" Derek says happily. "Dude I owe you."
"Yeah, I know." Robby smirks.
The next night, Derek and the group enter Madison Square Garden. Derek is awe struck. The arena is amazing, he sees thousands of Rangers' fans lining up for the concession stands, and all the food and souvenirs he can imagine being sold at the stands.
"Hey, Derek. Come on." Eric says breaking Derek's gaze.
"Okay." Derek says in a daze. "WOW! HOLY...."
"Second time I've seen you speechless. Come on, let's enjoy the game." Eric smiles widely as he pulls Derek along.
A period of hockey later, Derek is on top of the world. The rest of the group just mocks his happiness and groans as the home team is losing 1 to nothing. Derek just laughs at them as he celebrates his team leading the home team.
"All right, Derek. Can you stop for two minutes and bring us some more snacks." Eric says angrily.
"Sure, I'm feeling generous." Derek smirks.
Derek leaves the lounge box and walks towards one of the concession stands. As he walks up he notices an older man talking on the phone away from the stand. He thinks back to a moment from when he was younger. Before he has a moment to think his feet begin moving towards the older man.
"Dennis McDonald?" Derek asks, stepping up to the older man.
"Excuse me, young man, but I'm in the middle of an important phone call. So whatever you need to talk to me about will have to wait." The man says, pushing Derek out of his way.
"CASEY MCDONALD, SIR!" Derek shouts.
"I'll call you back, Glenn." The man shuts off his phone and turns to Derek. He says sternly, "Let's talk over there."
Derek and the man walk over to a bar table and sit. Derek watches as the man orders a drink. When he returns to the table they stare at each other for a few seconds and Derek blinks.
"So, why is my daughter any of your concern?" The man asks.
"My own business, Mr. McDonald." Derek answers nervously.
"How do you know her?" Dennis asks curiously.
"Years ago your daughter had invited you to her new home to meet her new family. A new stepfather, two new stepbrothers and a stepsister." Derek begins to explain. "She wanted to make sure that the night was perfect. She spent hours cooking dinner, cleaning the house, preparing everything to her unnecessary standard. However, the evening ended in disaster and she was left in tears."
"Later that evening, a young man called you. Saying your daughter was upset over the events of that evening, only trying to spend some time with her father. Well, believe it or not, I'm that young man." Derek finishes.
"Derek? Derek Venturi?" Dennis questions.
Derek nods and Dennis extends his hand to shake Derek's. Derek is caught off guard and slowly shakes hands. Dennis starts to laugh and Derek follows, laughing nervously.
"Wow. WOW!" Dennis says. "Derek, it's been a long time since I've seen you."
"Yeah, too long." Derek mumbles. "Dennis?"
"Yeah, you want to know where Casey is." Dennis says.
"How did you..." Derek says.
"I'm surprised you don't have a sign in hand that say's "Waiting for Casey McDonald"." Dennis laughs. "I can see the look in your eyes."
"Wow." Derek whispers.
"Derek... all you had to do was ask your father." Dennis says.
"Why?" Derek questions.
"He didn't tell you." Dennis asks.
Derek shakes his head. Dennis gives his a questioning look then decides to divulge Derek into what he knows.
"Casey was pregnant back about 5 years ago. I didn't agree with the decision or Casey's negligence, but George and Nora decided to bring her here so that way she could have the baby. They thought it would be best that way since Nora was pregnant also."
"Casey hasn't been in contact with us since she left that summer." Derek says.
"That's crazy. She calls almost every...." Dennis begins to say, suddenly coming to a realization.
"Dennis?" Derek asks.
"Derek..." Dennis says. "You need to get back home. I can get you a plane there tonight."
"But, my friends?" Derek panics.
"Which box are they in?" Dennis asks.
A half hour later, Eric, his brother and the others are still waiting for Derek to get back. Eric's brother looks disappointed at Eric. Eric runs a hand through his hair and calls Derek for the fifth time. Eric hangs up the phone when he hears the voicemail answer and exits the box.
A security guard comes up to Eric and hands him a note. Eric raises an eyebrow at the guard and takes the note. Eric recognizes the handwriting as soon as he opens the note.
Eric, urgent business. Left for home. Talk later. Derek
On a plane, heading towards London, Derek is staring at a picture of Casey. As he puts the picture back in his wallet he sees the letter that changed his life and looks out the window.
I'm coming back Casey. I'm going to find out what our parents had to do with this and I'm coming back to rescue you.
In the taxi, Derek watches as the houses fly by. He keeps tapping his hand nervously against his leg. When he sees his home in view he pounds on the glass seperating him from the driver. The driver opens the window and Derek throws some money into the driver's hand.
"Keep the change." Derek says.
"Thanks man." The driver says.
Derek jumps out of the taxi and starts running towards his home. He fumbles with the key to the door and murmurs curses as he grabs the right key. The door unlocks and he sees Marti sleeping in his chair. Derek turns to lock the door, making sure that no one can here him come in.
Derek walks over to Marti. He leans down and smiles as he moves a piece of her hair away from her face. He begins to tickle her stomach and she squirms. Her eyes open slowly and she sees Derek standing in front of her.
"SMEREK!" Marti screams.
"Shit!" Derek curses. "Marti, quiet before the whole house...."
A scream is heard throughout the house and the sound of footsteps can be heard. The basement door opens and George, Nora, and a little boy appear. From the staircase, Edwin and Lizzie emerge. They all stare at the sight of Derek holding his hand to Marti's mouth.
Derek releases her mouth and she hugs him tightly. Derek lets out a small chuckle and looks to everyone else.
"HEY.....I'M HOME!" Derek grins.
"MOM! GEORGE! I NEED SOME MORE TISSUES, THE BATHROOM'S ALL OUT AND SELLY'S FREAKING OUT!" Casey shouts.
Derek visibly stiffens as the voice reaches his ears. He can now hear the footsteps as the woman begins to get closer to the stairway.
"Marti, can you please stop scream...." Casey begins but suddenly stops when she sees Derek.
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Okay, I'm sorry. If I went on I would have the next chapter written out already. So, for now enjoy the cliffhanger.
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