It has been 6 years since Derek and Casey's graduation. Nora and George have divorced, and Nora has custody of the baby boy, Aidan. Casey is back at Queens to get her Masters' Degree in teaching.
" 'I could,' I'd insisted. He said, 'I've never admitted it, not even to myself, before a minute ago.'"
"Really? Oh, that's so cute. So, tell me more about the Derek Venturi. I can't believe you didn't tell me you knew him," Bianca exclaims after Casey gets done with her tale.
"Bianca, tomorrow," Casey MacDonald whines. "I'm tired, and it's almost eleven."
"You are the strangest college student I've ever met. How can you go to bed at—" she looks at the clock—"10:30? It's not 'almost' eleven, Case."
"Don't call me that," the brunette says quickly. Like she needed to be reminded of Derek anymore tonight.
Bianca gives her a puzzled look. "Alright."
Casey flashes her roommate a smile and turns off the light near her bed.
"Casey—"
"Good night, Bianca."
"But, Casey…"
"Bianca," Casey says sharply. "It can wait until morning.
"Oh, fine!"
Casey smiles in the dark and lies down on the bed. She closes her eyes, ignoring Bianca's annoyed mumbles.
Casey is looking forward to a nice, dreamless sleep, unfortunately chaos and weird dreams came hurtling back into her life along with the Venturi boys.
She dreams of Derek.
And, she doesn't know why. Not only that, it's a flashback.
"Casey!" Nora yells up the stairs. "We're going to be late. George wants you and Lizzie to meet Marti and Edwin, and Derek."
Fifteen-year-old Casey flips her hair into a ponytail. "Coming, Mom. Lizzie, you ready?"
"I have been. Casey," her little sister scolds, flipping off the light, "it's still light out! You're wasting electricity."
It was February, and six o'clock at night, in Canada… there wasn't much natural light. Casey just smiles and chooses not to argue.
"Girls!"
"Yes, Mom. Your purse is on the table!" Lizzie and Casey yell together.
The MacDonald girls head down the stairs. Lizzie hands Nora her purse and Casey grabs the car keys from the peg on the wall.
"Thanks, girls," Nora says while brushing her hair from her face. "Now, this is—"
"Very important to you," Casey finishes her sentence, smiling widely. She knew that after all.
"Yes, dear. Now, George told me that he, too, has a family, and we are going to meet them tonight."
"Do you think they'll like us, Casey?" Lizzie asks as they sit in the backseat of the sleek black car.
"I dunno. You know I love you, Liz, but…"
"I don't want any potential new siblings either."
"Girls, please keep an open mind about this. Besides, George and I have an announcement. We're here."
"Chinese?" Lizzie wrinkles her nose. "Mom I can smell the grease from here! Do you know how many innocent animals are slaughtered for Chinese food?"
"Lizzie, calm down. I'm sure there are vegetarian options," Casey assures her.
"Yes, sweetie, I'm sure there are," Nora smiles back at her through the rearview mirror. "Oh, Casey. I have something to tell you."
"Is that George?" Lizzie points to a man waving at the car.
"It is! Oh, goodness. Do I have my purse? Is my makeup okay?"
"Yes. Mom, it's fine. Let's go meet the Venturis."
"Thank you dear," Nora takes a fortifying breath. "Okay."
The MacDonalds exit the car, heading towards George Venturi.
"Nora," he greets her, kissing her on the cheek. "These two young beauties must be your daughters."
Casey takes that as her cue, and steps forward. "It's a pleasure to meet you, George. I'm Casey."
"And, I'm Lizzie," her little sister sticks out her hand.
George shakes it enthusiastically. "I'm sure the two of you will get along just fine with Edwin and Marti."
Because, she thought to herself, you didn't get along with Derek. Speaking of the oldest Venturi, she wondered where the bane of her existence was…
"Are those your children?" Casey asks politely. Even though she already knew that…
"Yes." George raps on the door of a nearby green van. "Kids, time to eat."
A short, dark haired boy opens the door and grabs the hand of a little girl, barreling out of the vehicle.
"I'm Edwin, and this is Marti."
"Daddy," the little girl says. "Where's Smerek?"
Smerek? Casey thought. "Are we still waiting on someone?" she asks aloud.
"Hey, Smarti," a tall, lanky boy swoops down towards Marti, and ruffles her hair.
"Not anymore," George comments wryly. "Derek, you're late."
"So? It's only dinner."
"Smerek! I want to sit next to you," Marti demands, adjusting the cat ears on her head.
"Alright," he hunkers down to her height, "but that means you have to sit at the table."
"But, Smerek! Kitties don't sit at the table!"
"That's the deal. Take it or leave it."
"Okay," Marti pouts.
"Hey," Edwin nods at Lizzie, donning a pair of sunglasses and trying to look cool.
"Hi." She steps closer to Casey.
"So, Dad, who are the chicks?"
"Derek," George scolds. "These ladies are Nora's daughters, Casey and Lizzie."
"Right," Derek eyes Casey, keeping a cool, suave smile on his lips. "So, you're going to be my sister?"
"What?" Lizzie and Casey exclaim together.
"Mom?" Casey gets out a strangled gasp, whipping around towards her mother. This was not how it was supposed to be announced!
"It's true!" Nora says, exuding happiness.
Casey wants to complain (she really does) but, she can't. Nora hasn't been this happy in a long time. And, she already knew. But, she and Derek vowed to never talk about 'Operation Disengagement' again. After all, she was the one who proposed. And, Derek was the one who accepted.
Derek throws an arm over Casey's shoulder.
"So, babe. I figure that you and I should be getting to know each other very well," he winks at her.
"Eww. First of all, that'd be incest. And, second, you're a chauvinistic, secular… jerk!" she pushes off of her, and rushes inside the restaurant.
"Dude," Casey hears Edwin say as he catches up to Derek. "She just…"
"Edwin!" Derek snaps, silencing his brother with a glare.
"Smerek? What does chauvinistic mean?"
"Smarti, it's not important," Derek says. "Let's eat."
"Okay. Derek, sit there," George points. "Ed, next to him. Marti, next to Edwin and then—"
"NO!" Marti yells. "I'm sitting with Smerek!"
"Okay. My kids: sit down. Ed, put Marti between you and Derek," George instructs.
Nora finishes the seating arrangement. "Lizzie, you sit next to Edwin. George and I will sit next to each other. And, Casey…"
"Looks like you'll be sittin' next to me, babe," Derek pats the curved booth next to him.
"Mom," Casey says in a low, dangerous tone, her nostrils flaring.
"Well, Lizzie could sit next to Derek."
"Oh, no! I'm staying next to you Mom. Sorry, Casey, but you're on your own," Lizzie says, sheepishly edging away from the youngest Venturi boy.
"Just deal with it, princess," Derek smirks, stretching his arm out against the back of the booth.
Casey sits down, as close to the edge of the seat as possible.
Derek whispers something to Edwin, who frowns and then nods slowly. He elbows Marti, who knocks into Derek. He adds to his momentum by sliding towards his step-sister-to-be. He knocks Casey right out of the booth.
"Oh, gosh! Casey, are you okay? You really should scoot in more. I promise I don't bite." He smiles at her winsomely.
"Yes, Casey," George urges. "Scoot in. We don't want you to get hurt."
Casey glares up at Derek, stands, and then sits back down.
He smirks at her, and passes a menu towards her.
Casey's lips tighten into a straight angry line. "Thank you."
"Uh-uh-uh," he reaches past Casey. "It's for her." He gazes lewdly at the blond waitress.
"I didn't get to look yet," Casey complains. Had she really been arguing with Derek that long?
Nora spears her with a glance. "Casey, I'm sure Derek can suggest something for you."
"Yeah, sure, Nora," Derek smiles at her, confidence oozing from his expression. "She'll have a number three special."
"Are you two on a date with your families? That's so sweet!" the blonde squeals.
"No!" Casey says immediately.
Derek glares at her for a second, then loops his arm tightly around her. "What she means is," he says quietly (so their parents don't hear), "it's not nearly as fun as it seems.
Casey squirms uncomfortably under his strong, unyielding gasp.
The blonde smiles cheekily, sighing romantically as the rest of the Venturis and MacDonald's order.
"Get off me!" Casey hisses, elbowing Derek in the stomach.
"Alright, princess." He raises his eyebrows and settles his arm behind her head once again. "I hope you like Mongolian Beef."
"Beef?" Casey wrinkles her nose. "I don't eat meat. We're vegetarians! Do you know the health risks of being omnivorous?" As she continues, she notices Derek tuning her out. Well, if he wanted to eat meat full of growth-stimulating chemical hormones, who was she to judge?
"Casey! It's morning. Now, tell me about Derek," Bianca says, bouncing happily on her bed.
"Oh, Bianca! Gosh, I was actually having a good dream."
Bianca leans towards her conspiratorially. "Was it about Derek Venturi?"
Casey laughs, trying to hide her discomfort.
"You're blushing… It was about Derek!"
"Bianca," Casey protests.
"Hush," her roommate scolds. "You haven't even looked at any guys the whole time you've been back from your school in the suburbs."
"I've been dating Chris."
"But, you never dreamt about him."
"No," Casey admits softly, surprising even herself.
"Casey," a girl knocks on the door. "Christopher's here asking for you."
"Tell him—"
"Tell me yourself, babe."
Casey flinches at the term. Somehow, the way Derek had mockingly said it was better than the possessive way Christopher did. "Christopher. Go. Away."
"Casey, hun, can't we just talk—"
"No. Chris, you beat up my stepbrother! We're over. Go find some other girl to boss around!"
"Wow," Bianca mutters, surprised at her friend's vindication.
"Case, babe—"
"Don't you dare call me that! First of all, I hate being referred to as a babe. It's demoralizing! Second, my name is Case-y. Two syllables! Geez, Derek, you just…" the insult dies on her lips as Christopher's eyes narrow.
"Who's Derek?"
"None of your business. You're out of my life; now, get out of my room."
He states at her, and then stomps down the stairs. He slams the door, and the entire dorm was quiet. Then, much to Casey's surprise, Bianca starts clapping. Soon, the other girls join in and start cheering.
"Okay, okay," Casey smiles. "Enough! I get it. You all hated him."
"I had no idea you had that in you," Bianca hugs her and shoos the other girls from their room. "Casey, you said Edwin and Derek were brothers… and now you said that Edwin is your stepbrother. Does that mean Derek, the Derek Venturi, is…?"
"My step-brother, whom I happen to still, possibly, maybe have a tiny crush on? Yep."
"You're being awfully calm about this. Who are you, and where's the real Casey MacDonald?"
"It's me Bianca. You see, our parents married when we were freshmen in high school. My second year here, they got a divorce."
"What happened?" her roommate asks.
"We don't really know. Edwin and I talked about it last night, but George didn't tell him anything more than my mom told me. She said, 'Things just aren't working out. With you and Derek gone…' and that's all she said. Ever."
"Whoa."
"Tell me about it. I've gotta go. I'm going to get some breakfast, and eat with Derek." Casey gets dressed and grabs her purse.
"You're going to see Derek Venturi and you're going to wear that?"
"What's wrong with it?" Casey looks at the denim capris and blue polo.
"You look like a golf commercial."
"Thanks, Bianca," Casey rolls her eyes. Then, she utters the dreaded words. "What do you think I should wear?"
"If I show you—" she smiles in a way that can only be described as evilly—"you have to wear it."
All of Casey's instincts were screaming for her to say 'No!' but when she looked at the hopeful grin on Bianca's face and she caved. "Okay."
"Yes!"
Casey rolls her eyes and lets Bianca dig through her closet.
"I found the perfect outfit!" she shoves two hangers into Casey's hand.
"Okay," Casey slips into the clothes. "Geez, Bianca! I can't wear this; I look like a… like a… a…. a hooker!"
"Casey, you're wearing a cute V-neck tee that shows just enough to be alluring. It's a far cry from looking like a tramp off the street."
"But, Bianca, the skirt…"
"Is perfectly respectable!"
Casey spears her with 'The Look.'
"Okay, so it's a little racy. Casey, you're going to see Derek Venturi. You should be totally okay with your stepbro seeing you in a lacy skirt."
"Lacy isn't the adjective I would've chosen."
"Hot, sexy—"
"See-through, flirtatious, hooker-like," Casey interrupts. "I have nightgowns made of more fabric. Heck, I think my bra has more fabric than this!"
"You promised."
Already, Casey is regretting that she agreed to this. "Bianca, you're my best friend. But, respectfully, no. I'll keep the shirt on, but I'm going to wear my capris."
"Good. If I can't boss you around, no one can. Now I know that you aren't going to do anything dumb."
Casey's eyes go wide.
"Oh, don't blush. Casey, you lived with him! Surely you saw each other in various states of undress."
"Okay, stop waggling your eyebrows. I saw him in swim trunks, and that was it!"
Bianca titters, hiding her giggles behind her hand.
"I'm leaving," Casey declares, donning the capris.
"Have fun."
Casey snorts and heads towards the hospital, after making a short detour.