Derek grabbed my hand. It was so warm. I held it tight.
"Hi there. I am Anna."
"So?" Derek said indifferently.
"So I saw that you guys were newlyweds. The bar keep told me. So are me and" she paused and looked around. She went and grabbed a man that had been sitting at the bar. "So are me and Kevin here."
"Hi, I am Kevin Louise. Sorry about my wife but she is kind of bored of the party scene and not having any friends here."
"It is all good. You two want to join us on the newlywed party route. Itll be fun." I said with a smile.
"if you don't mind."
"Honestly," I said in a whisper to Anna "ME and him are not actually married. He is my best friend. I think I'd kill him if was just me and him tonight."
"Your secret is safe with me."
"Case, lets dance." Derek said grabbing me by the hands.
"You two may not be married." Anna said when we met back up, "But you two are so cute together. I hope you don't mind I took the camera out of your bag and snapped some pics. I am studied to be a photographer so I couldn't help myself."
"Thanks."
"Look at these." She said
I looked at the camera. I saw me and Derek gliding on the floor. There was a sparkle in his eyes I had never noticed before. I turned to him and smile. "You are really good Anna. Thanks again."
"I have a wonderful guy in my life, Casey. But if I had stuck him in the friend zone and never let him move past I would not be married now. I don't want you to make a mistake.
"Who me and Derek? Uh no… I mean I had a small crush on him… but that is old. I mean."
"Do me a favor."
"What?"
"How drunk are you?"
"Pretty… Why?"
"Go kiss him… If it is bad blame it on the alcohol. If not then whatever, and kiss him all you want."
I laughed a drunken laugh. "Here I go. Wish me luck. And I wont enjoy it."
"Sure just go do it."
I waltz right up to Derek and did it. I kissed him. At first he stood there shocked. But then he kissed back. It was the best kiss ever.
"WooHoo." I heard Anna say. Then I heard her snap a picture.
"Casey, look what came in the mail last night." Lizzie said.
"What is it?"
"How I am I supposed to know. It is to you. At least I think it is. Its to Mrs. Casey Venturi. Is there something you haven't told me sis."
"No." I said playfully slapping her. Its from Vegas. Who do we know in Vegas?"
"No one."
"Well let's open it and see shall we."
Inside sat a note. Dear Casey,
I have been wanting to give you this for ten years. I saw your picture in the newspaper talking about your achievements in medicine. And so I tracked you down so I could send you this. It has been so long. How is Derek. I bet as handsome as ever. I stopped to laugh. Probably some girl Derek had seduced while on the trip to Vegas. Well you left your camera in my room before you left that night and I thought you might enjoy the memories of that weekend. So I put in a photo album for you. Hope you enjoy.
Your friend Anna.
"Who is Anna?"
"Actually… I cant remember. A lot of that trip I cant remember. I got these fake IDs and we spent the last weekend drunk. I remember waking up Monday morning to a aloud alarm going off. Before that the last thing that rings a bell is pretending to be married."
"To who?"
"Derek."
"Oh that's interesting. Can we open it?"
"Sure."
I regretted it a few minutes later. The first few pictures were ok. They were me and Derek dancing. The caption said 'true love'. I laughed but not as hard as Lizzie. Then I turned the page. It was me and Derek kissing.
"You kissed Derek?"
"I kissed Derek…" I said felling as if I was going into shock. "Ok enough of this for me. You can keep it if you want… Actually burn it for me. I cant even look at it."
"Did you and Derek… you know?"
"Ewe! No way. Lizzie I need to go find Tanner and go erase this picture out of my mind before I go insane. And whatever you do don't show Derek."
I rushed out the room and ran straight to Tanner and kissed him. But as I did a memory flashed.
I was kissing Derek deeply. And it was good. Memories flooded in. All of them. "CRRRAAAPPPP!" I moaned
"Case, you ok?"
"yah… I think. I just have a bad feeling. I need to go talk to Derek."
"But he is still in New York. He wont be here for a week."
"I need to fly down there. Ill be back in just a few days."