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Chapter Twelve: Repercussions

Casey was angry. No, angry wasn't the right word. She was furious. She struggled to maintain her composure as she moved about the kitchen, fighting the urge to slam pots and pans everywhere for fear of waking up a slumbering Steph in the living room.

She went over the previous night's events and huffed out a breath. Casey had half a mind to storm into her and Lizzie's bedroom and shake her little sister awake to demand an explanation. How dare her sister make Casey worry like that?! Didn't she know that that was Casey's biggest fear? That if anything ever happened to Lizzie Casey wouldn't, couldn't go on? Tears pricked Casey's eyes and she shuddered in a breath. She felt a major breakdown coming on and she didn't know what to do about it. A loud snort from Steph made Casey whirl around, but Steph slept on. Casey shook her head to herself. She had to find a way to get herself and Lizzie their own place, and soon.

Three hours later found Casey sitting at the small kitchen table, a cold cup of coffee between her palms. Steph still snored on and Casey's leg was bobbing a mile a minute, her nerves about ready to fray. She had successfully fought the urge to go and drag her sister out of bed to yell at her. Casey knew that wasn't the right way to go about things. All that resulted in was the silent treatment and Casey couldn't stand that.

Casey pushed the bedroom door open with her foot, her hands balancing a plate of toast and bottled water. Her experience with her father's drinking educated Casey on the art of handling a hangover. Oh yeah, she knew that Lizzie had been drunk the night before, the fumes emanating from her sister making Casey relive unpleasant memories.

She moved into the bedroom and set the plate and bottled water on the nightstand before approaching Lizzie's bed. As if sensing she was not alone, Lizzie groaned and turned over, her arm coming up over her eyes.

"Liz, wake up," Casey said tersely.

Another groan, but no further movement, and Casey's blood pressure started to go up. "Lizzie, get up," she said louder.

"Gawd, what?" Lizzie mumbled into her arm before sitting up gingerly in bed. "I'm awake." She said softer, her eyes landing on Casey before skittering off toward the wall.

Casey watched as Lizzie settled herself against the headboard before reaching over and handing the toast and water to her. "Here, eat this. It'll help your stomach."

Lizzie's eyes jumped back to her sister. "My stomach's fine," she said unconvincingly.

Casey's brow arched sardonically. "Really? What with all the alcohol you consumed last night I thought it would be pretty screwed up."

Lizzie took a deep breath and grabbed the water bottle. Opening it swiftly she started gulping.

"Whoa there, tiger. You might want to slow down on that unless you want to throw it all up later."

Lizzie snorted around the bottle in her mouth. "Too late," she said when she finished drinking.

Casey smiled grimly and watched Lizzie pick apart the toast. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Casey couldn't take it anymore. "You want to tell me what the hell happened to you yesterday?" She paused for a minute before continuing. "Besides the obvious?"

Lizzie didn't answer for a while and Casey felt her leg start jumping again. Remain calm, she counseled herself. If you yell, she'll just clam up.

"Listen," Lizzie's voice startled Casey out of her head, "I'm sorry for making you worry, OK? I shouldn't have left the mall. It'll never happen again," she said her eyes not meeting Casey's.

Casey took a deep breath before speaking. "That's it? You're sorry? Where did you go after the mall? I know you didn't get drunk by yourself. Where did you get the alcohol? And how many times have I told you to stay away from that crap? Don't you get it? We already lost dad to it, now you want to go the same way?" Well, her plan to remain calm flew out the window as she was now close to yelling. Casey fought back tears and tried to keep her voice from cracking. She had to get Lizzie to understand that what she did was wrong.

Lizzie sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. "Geez, Casey, you always overreact about everything. So I had a few beers. Everyone does it. Why can't I have some fun too?"

"Yeah, you looked like you were having a great time when I found you last night," Casey bit out.

"Well before that, I was," Lizzie shot back, setting the still-mostly-full plate back on the nightstand.

"Where did you go?" Casey repeated, not willing to let it go.

"I was with some friends, OK? I ran into some people I go to school with and they invited me back to theirs. It was no big deal," she said sullenly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Casey's hand flinched with the urge to slap the smirk off Lizzie's face. "Who?"

"Just some guys," Lizzie said vaguely.

"Just some guys?" Casey repeated, her ire rising. She could feel her face heat up with anger. "You met some guys at the mall and just decided to go off with them? What the hell's going through your head?"

"I told you, I know them," Lizzie said scowling. "It's not like I went off with some strangers."

Casey took some deep breaths and unclenched her fists before replying. And as quickly as it came, her anger seemed to dissipate. All she was left with was a crushing feeling in her chest that left her weak. She wanted to crawl under her bed covers and not come out – ever. She went over and sat heavily on her bed, her head hanging, eyes on the floor. Casey could feel the tears threatening to burst and she swallowed noisily. When she spoke, it was so soft that Lizzie had to lean forward to hear her. "Don't ever do that again. You're grounded for a month. No ifs, ands or buts. And don't even bother to argue because I'm not in the mood for it."

With that, Casey got up and left the room, leaving Lizzie there staring dumbly after her.

Derek was sitting on the couch half-watching TV when Marti came bounding down the stairs. "Good morning, Smerek," she said before settling down next to him. Smiling, he wrapped his arm around her and she snuggled into his side. "Whatcha watchin?"

"Hell if I know," he sighed before handing the remote over. "Here, it's yours."

Marti leaning back to crane her head at him. "OK, who are you and what have you done with my brother?" she asked with a smirk on her face.

Derek turned to look at her. "What?"

She laughed. "Well, the Derek I know would never willingly give up the remote without a fight."

He huffed out a laugh. "Oh, come on. I'm not that bad."

She settled back into him and started flipping through the channels. "No, you're not. I'm just kidding with ya," she paused before adding. "You used to be, though."

"Well, I guess I grew up," he said before they lapsed into a companionable silence.

Casey was still breathing hard when she let herself back into the apartment an hour later. After her discussion with Lizzie she needed to get out for awhile and work off some of her anger and anxiety. She was this close to going ballistic and she was determined to stop it. But god, it was just so hard sometimes. She had a whole new respect for single parents, because basically, that's what she was. And raising a teenager? Well, there was no manual for that. It was the hardest thing she'd ever done, and probably would ever do, and she was bound and determined to do it right. She wanted her sister to have the best of everything, to have the opportunities that Casey didn't, to be able to do whatever she wanted with her life and not have to worry about anything. Casey knew that was probably too much to ask but she wasn't giving up. Only the best for Lizzie, the best.

Is it too early to call? Derek thought for the twentieth time as he glanced at his cell phone. The time was two in the afternoon, and Derek felt dumb for thinking that it might be too early, but it was imperative that he not come across as eager, or desperate, or any of the other bad things that Casey could possibly think of him.

He sighed again and shifted on the couch, making Marti sniffle and burrow her face deeper into his chest. She had dozed off watching some fashion show and Derek didn't have the heart to wake her. They didn't get to spend much time together and she was growing up fast. Not too long ago he wouldn't have thought twice about ditching her to do his own thing, but not anymore. Not since…well, he didn't want to think about it. All he knew was that he would cherish any time he got to spend with his Smarti. He leaned over and dropped a kiss on her hair before focusing back on the TV screen. OK, that's enough, he thought before grabbing the remote and changing the channel, desperately hoping to find a game on. All this fashion was making him feel weird and he swore his testosterone had dropped a few points just in the last few minutes. He chuckled before settling on wrestling. Ah, that's it! This is what a man watches!

"I don't know when I'll be able to get up there," Steph's voice sounded softly from the couch. Casey was at the kitchen table going over bills and trying valiantly not to listen but it was tough. The change in demeanor alone in her roommate was so stark that she was captivated. Lizzie was exiled in the bedroom doing her homework so it was just the two of them. "I know, Mama, but I told you, I work a lot and it's hard to get any time off."

Casey's eyes widened but she kept her head down.

"How's daddy doing?" Silence. "Uh huh, well did you call the doctor like I told you?" A beat. "Why not?" A sigh and then, "Do you want me to call for you? No, no, it's no problem, just let me get something to write it down," Steph said as she rose and headed into the kitchen. Looking around she gestured at Casey for a writing utensil. Without thinking, Casey handed over the pencil she had been using. Steph grabbed one of Casey's bills and turned it over. "OK, I'm ready," she said then started scribbling the information down. "Yes, I'll do it tomorrow. OK, is there anything else you need me to do?" Silence again and Casey thought she could detect the tinny voice of Steph's mom through the phone. "Yes, Mama, I promise I'll visit soon, OK? OK, gotta go, uh huh, love you too, OK, bye," she said before hanging up.

Steph sighed heavily before dropping into the chair opposite Casey, who was studiously ignoring her. "Ugh, parents," Steph groused as her eyes trained on Casey.

Feeling her roommate's gaze, Casey raised her head. "I wouldn't know," she snapped before thinking. At that, Casey rose and left the table heading for the bedroom where she would probably be ignored by Lizzie. There's no place to relax in this house, Casey thought grumpily as she headed down the hall.

Steph watched Casey walk away before scowling. "What a bitch," she said under her breath before getting up to make herself something to eat.

"So, how are you today?" Derek asked in Casey's ear as she paced around the living room. Thankfully Steph had left a while ago to do who-knows-what and Lizzie was still barricaded in their bedroom.

Casey sighed. "I'm good, and you?"

It was silent on the other end for a moment before Derek spoke. "I'm good. Are you sure you're OK? It sounds like something's wrong," he blurted out before thinking. Oh, she hates it when I pry, he thought panicking.

Casey thought for a moment before answering. "Well, I'm just butting heads with Lizzie…she's giving me some trouble, you know how kids are."

Derek refrained from snickering. The way Casey talked she sounded like an old lady, and not like the 18-year-old he knew she was. He sobered as he thought about all the responsibilities that she carried on her shoulders. Oh, she didn't talk about it very often, but he pretty much figured out that they were on their own and Casey was basically raising Lizzie single-handedly. It made him thankful for his father, even though Derek thought he might be getting an ulcer from eating George's cooking.

Instead, he said, "I can only imagine what it's like…my sister isn't quite there yet, but I'm sure it's coming soon. Is there anything I can do to help?" He so wanted Casey to invite him over. He also wanted to meet Lizzie. Casey spoke of her so often and with so much love that Derek felt almost as if he already knew her. He wanted to put a face to the name.

"No, but thanks for offering. I just hope…" she trailed off, leaving Derek to wonder what she had intended to say.

"Hope what?" he asked after a moment.

"Nothing," Casey answered. "So how's work going?" she said deftly changing the subject.

And that was the end of that.

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