Jeez, Vicky is a witch... I mean, she's worse than Derek! I'd like to see Casey beat the crap out of her... But she looks so much like Casey! I mean, how can Derek think she's hot if he doesn't think Casey is? And, jeez, he looked kind of excited when he talked about the catfight... They're practically twins (kinda like Nora and Fiona)... Only Vicky wears more make-up... And cuter clothes. Casey needs a bit of a make-over. And to do something better with her hair... Maybe curl it or something? I dunno... I mean, I have like a gazillion girl cousins and I don't look that much like any of them... It's kinda cute that Marti and Derek call each other Smarti and Smerek... And Edwin and Lizzie work together really well... Lol, Derek having the mental breakdown... And they played "Get Me the Rock Outta Here" by The Pettit Project! Ahh, I love that song! It's so cool that I actually know what songs they play... Hehe. And when he kissed Victoria, it really looked like he was kissing Casey... I mean, they wear their hair the same and everything! Honestly!
"I've seen your bathroom aim and it isn't very good!"
Things have been weird lately. Which is saying something, considering how crazy things normally are around here... I know what it is. It's because Derek walked in on me making out with Sam in the doorway. His best friend. That's what you get when you're dating your stepbrother's best friend. It's crazy, but lately, everything's been crazy.
Which is why I need to talk to Derek. You see, Mom and George are going away for a weekend... entirely alone this time. Marti's staying at her grandmother's house, and we've already arranged for Lizzie and Edwin to go to friend's houses for the weekend. This time, he chose to inform me of the party. It's better this way. This way I don't freak out. Sam's going to be there... Which is really why I'm okay with it. The party's on Halloween, actually. It's going to be a costume party, sorta cheesy, I know, but Derek's hosting, so it's bound to be cool.
I mean, somehow they think Derek's hot and cool and all that... To this day, I still don't get how they think that. All I see when I look at him is a played-out overly-flirtatious slacker-idiot. And that's keeping it tame. Of course I'd probably never tell Derek that. I'm the bigger person here, remember?
We seriously need to talk. I cannot have this... weirdness up in the air between us. Mom and George have to buy that we're not going to have a party when they leave. So we have to maintain the status quo. I mean, Derek was avoiding me yesterday. He didn't even look at me. And then, when he actually had to, he was nice to me! I know, can you say weird?
I asked Edwin where he was (because I've been looking for Derek all night). He just shrugged and said something like: "I dunno... The bathroom?" Yeah, really helpful of him. So here I am, standing outside of the bathroom, not even knowing if Derek is even here. All I know is that he isn't in the den... Or his room... Or the kitchen. And honestly, what would that boy be doing in the laundry room or the basement, for that matter? He's not in the attic because I just went up there, or my room or Lizzie's (at least, I hope not... That would be creepy and weird) or Marti's...
I don't know though... He could be at a friend's house or something... He does that a lot, you know. Or he could have moved from somewhere else... Whatever. I'll just do this and then I'm giving up and putting it off until tomorrow.
Hesitantly, I reached out and slowly placed my hand on the doorknob. Why was I being so slow? It's not like Derek's in there. Rolling my eyes at the strange feeling that was telling me not to do this, I twisted the doorknob and flung the door open. I saw a flash of skin before Derek pulled the towel around his waist, looking somewhat surprised.
Crap. He was in here. Crap. Not that I saw anything... Not really, that is... I mean... Wait, okay, why am I even analyzing this? I didn't see anything. Derek has fast hand-eye coordination from all that hockey, which is a very good thing, because if he didn't, I would have seen my stepbrother naked. Which would not have been good.
Wow, I can't believe it. Derek is actually smirking. I walk in on him and he's somehow still smirking... I don't think I'd be able to do the same. Yeah, I definitely wouldn't... "Like what you see, Casey?" Derek drawled, leaning against the wall and giving me this look. Like he's trying to be James Dean or something...
Please tell me he did not just insinuate that I'm staring at him because I think he's "hot". I'm not Emily! Honestly... I can't believe the nerve he's got.
"Oh, please... We need to talk," I stated bluntly, rolling my eyes at him and crossing my arms over my chest. To my surprise, Derek actually nodded, pushing himself off the wall and walking towards me. Suddenly, I felt very uncomfortable here, all alone in the bathroom with my half-naked stepbrother.
"You're right. We do need to talk," Derek replied smoothly as his gaze locked with mine. He paused. I couldn't bare his stare... Great, and now I'm rhyming. So, avoiding his gaze, I looked down at my feet. "I mean, you're breaking your own rule..."
My head shot up at his words as I frowned, confused. What did he mean? My own rule? "What do you mean, Derek?" I asked, bewildered. Derek gave me a look, rolling his eyes. As if I should already know what he was talking about.
"Jeez, Case... You know, the whole knocking rule... The one you made a huge deal about at dinner the first week you were here? Looks like you're the one who needs to learn how to knock," Derek retorted, leaning in a little closer, as he always did when we argued. As he said this, I could feel myself blush.
Oh, that rule. Stupid, stupid Casey. And hey, since when can he call me Case? Like he knows me... Well, okay, so he lives with me! So what? That doesn't mean we're close or intimate or anything! Most certainly not... intimate. I mean, ew, that's Derek we're talking about! "Oh, yeah, that rule... Um, sorry."
Derek shrugged, that stupid uncaring look on his face again. "It's nothing, Casey. I mean, you didn't see anything, right?" Derek responded coolly. Once again, I avoiding his stare.
"Nope... Nothing," I muttered, though my cheeks still felt hot. Derek nodded, immediately relaxing a little and moving his hands to his hips. He let out a deep breath, looking at me expectantly.
"So, Casey, what did you want to talk about?" He inquired, sounding bored. He wanted one of us out of that room, that much I could tell. I took a deep breath and met his eyes, trying not to fiddle with my hands. I had to get this all out now. Then everything would go so much smoother. Like the party...
"I don't exactly know how to put this, but... Things have been weird lately," I began slowly, biting my lip and pausing awkwardly. Derek said nothing but leaned over and shook out his hair, which was still very damp. Then he slowly moved back into his former position, his hips jutting forward a little.
He was still wet, I noticed. Derek stretched languidly, throwing his arms over his head and flexing and twisting his muscles. And suddenly, I realized that I was staring. Before I knew it, my eyes had swept all the way from his feet up to his chest. He had strong, defined muscles... Hockey sure does a body good. Beads of water trailed down his shoulders, rolling across his stomach, and streaming down his abdomen. And I was staring at his shirtless, practically naked body.
I mean, come on... This is Derek. D-E-R-E-K. The very same Derek who's made my life Hell. He gave me the nickname Klutzilla. He's the reason why everyone still thinks I'm a grade grubber. He made out with my cousin Victoria, for crying out loud! Victoria! He is a total barbarian... He thinks he owns the place. Drinking straight out of the carton, eating eggs straight out of the pan, and then spitting them back in... Ew. Pig.
It's Derek. I am not staring at Derek. I mean, I'm dating Sam, remember? Sam... Derek's best friend! Sam. Think Sam. You like Sam. Not-No, don't say it! No! If you say it, that means you're considering it... Which you're not... Because it's wrong and sick and he's your stepbrother. S-T-E-P-B-R-O-T-H-E-R. And an ass. A complete, total ass... Speaking of which, his butt's not that... Okay, no, I'm not thinking about this! No... It's Derek, for crying out loud.
My period's coming up soon. That's it... I'm hormonal and I'm losing my mind because of the hormones. Now, I was saying something... What was it? Oh, yeah... About the party. "Especially... With you and me..." Well, no kidding, Casey! You were just checking out Derek. Derek. Practically lusting after Derek. Derek. I mean, are you daft or something? Moving on! "And they've been that way ever since you sort of, um, walked in on Sam and me, uh, kissing..." I explained nervously and shakily.
Derek nodded, eyes narrowing in frustration (how was he only angry with me now?). He chose now to get short with me? "Yeah, so, what's your point? It's supposed to be a bit weird when you walk in on your sister making out with your best friend... Especially when I asked you two to not do that in front of me," Derek snarled angrily, perhaps a bit too furiously for the situation. After all, what did he have to be mad about with Sam and me? Is he trying to guilt me into not dating him? Am I supposed to feel bad that poor little Derek sees me kissing my boyfriend? I mean, the guy could (somehow) get any girl in the school... So it's not that he couldn't have one if he wanted... I mean, he made out with Vicky, didn't he? And she's really picky. They ought to call her Picky Vicky.
"Look, Derek... I'm just doing this for the party... It is important that Mom and George don't suspect anything, and if they do... They won't let us stay here all alone, they'll send that Higginbotham lady, which is something neither of us wants to happen, and you know it. You being weird is not helping matters any. So, Derek, whatever beef you've got with me... You better get over it or just forget about it because it's a long weekend and this is a small house. Okay?" I snapped bossily, fed up with all his crap. Great, now I was starting to sound like the idiot. Not that he's made me have a mental breakdown yet, but whatever...
Derek scowled at me with a bitter, enraged, almost murderous look in his eyes. I had never seen him so angry, and, trust me, I'd seen him angry. It sort of scared me... I guess he really must not like me telling him what to do. Whatever, he's gonna have to get over that. Did I just make things worse? However, as suddenly as it came, the glare vanished from his face.
He licked his lips, giving me a dismissive look, jerking his head upward suddenly in a rude nod. He is so unreadable! "Consider it forgotten," He hissed frostily, looking past me at the door, hinting. He wanted me to leave, but I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Oh, please, Derek! You didn't forget about it at all! You're only bottling up your anger," I countered, calling him on his insincerity. Derek rolled his eyes, stepping back from me a little. Not his usual style. Derek's all about getting in your face and invading your personal bubble. This means he's going to play it cool. Or should I say try to play it cool? I won't let him.
"Maybe you ought to be glad I'm not expressing my anger, Casey. If I didn't, I might do something stupid like ki...kill you," Derek growled, brow furrowing in rage. He ran a hand through his hair quickly. I hadn't ever really seen his hair down like this. He won't kill me. Derek draws the line at throwing things at me and wrestling over the remote.
"Ooh, I'm so afraid of Little Derek..." I taunted, pantomiming being afraid of him. I laughed at my pantomiming, but Derek remained unamused. I merely rolled my eyes at his idiocy once again. Derek frowned, and for a moment, it seemed as if Derek was fighting an internal war with himself. He looked conflicted, confused, but most of all, frustrated.
"Maybe you should be, Casey," Derek said quietly. His sudden moodswing, not to mention the way he said the words, managed to thoroughly freak me out. It seemed to freak him out too because as he came out of whatever mood he had been in, he was oddly quiet. "Fine, Sis... You win. I'm over it. There. Happy now?" He groaned, almost as if in pain, finally surrendering. I didn't fail to notice the brief grimace that came over his face as he called me Sis, or, for that matter, the slight wince that happened as he said that. I don't get it. He's called me Sis before. After all, we are siblings... By marriage!
I can't believe he gave in! And so easily, too! Today must be my lucky day or something. Though maybe Derek should get a blood test or something. He seems a bit off today... Actually, come to think of it, he's been off all week. I smirked at him and answered his question. "Very."
"Hey, Case? I realize that I'm hot, but you ought to leave before you see me naked again. Unless, of course, you want to... I'm totally cool with that. Or, you know, if you want to take off your clothes and make it a real party... I've got no qualms with that. In fact, I encourage it..." Derek drawled nonchalantly, leaning forward a little and sliding his hand across my shoulder. Ugh, sleaze!
Please tell me he wasn't just hitting on me... Please! I mean, it sure sounded like it... You know, I need to relax. I mean, it's Derek. He was just doing one of his funny jokes. Ha-ha. Boy, that was funny... Not.
And he called me Case again! Argh. Derek raised an eyebrow, giving me an interested look. His hand fell to the towel. "Seriously?" I didn't know what he was asking, but I bolted out of the door, slamming it behind me, before I could find out.
I pressed my ear against the door and heard Derek sigh in relief. Relief? "Finally," He mumbled right before turning on the shower once again. But when I came in there he was still wet! How can this be? Who takes two showers in a row?
Wouldn't a better question be: Who listens to their stepbrother in the bathroom? Besides, I have studying to do.
And daydreams to dream about Sam... Not Derek.
No, now I'm going to go in my room and listen to girly music and read. Hmm, I'm thinking Unsensored maybe... Great band, really.
Yep, they would help me get my mind off of Derek's troubles. Seriously, that boy needs mental help. Maybe by playing the role of concerned sister, I could help convince Mom and George... Hmm, now there's an idea!
- Loren ;
Did you all like that last chapter? Can't you just feel the sexual tension? Too bad Casey can't. Poor oblivious girl. Oh, well... She'll get over it later. Just wait until you see what I've got planned for the party... I think that's going to be several chapters... If it helps, one of Derek's chapters for the party's probably gonna be called Mr. Obvious. ;)
Oh, and in case you're wondering, Unsensored does the theme song, not to mention the song that's playing when Casey's reading the book and trying not to study.
And a random fact... I almost named this chapter Every Inambition. So don't be surprised if that one pops up. Whoever figures out the thing the titles all have in common, well, I dunno, but kudos if you do... I'm gonna go do homework now... And sleep... And stuff. Fun.
Night!