A/N: So, here's a bit of a change-up in how I was planning to lay this all out. It's going to be organized chronologically, so there will be various pairings throughout. Looking back over everything, it made more sense, since various chapters reference one another, across the different pairings. As always, dedicated to kkbeatlesfan.
Lovely Rita, 2:40
Lizzie turns down the volume on Edwin's laptop. "What are you listening to? I can hear them crooning from my room."
Ed grimaces. "Sorry. I didn't think it was that loud. It's the Beatles."
"Oh."
"That's it?"
"Well, who am I to criticize your choice in music?" the high school freshman asks.
"Ha. So says the girl who uses Teenage Dream as a warm-up."
"It's for soccer!" she defends. "I'm not the one who made the CD."
He tries to smirk, but it must look like an amused grimace, because his stepsister giggles.
"Stop, please. One Derek is enough, and…well, you look constipated."
"What's constipated mean?" Marti questions from behind Lizzie.
"I'll tell you when you're older," Edwin replies offhandedly.
Lizzie snorts as Marti stomps away angrily.
"You've never listened to Lovely Rita?"
"Uh, no. 'Lovely Rita, meter maid, where would I be without you?' Seriously?"
"It was the 60s," Ed shrugs. "And, they're British."
"Hey, I don't know why you like 'em. But, if you do, who am I to judge?"
He smiles. "Thanks."
"So, did you finish the Algebra homework?"
"Yeah. You?"
She nods. "Yep. Wanna watch some TV?"
"Sure."
Once downstairs, she settles onto the couch beside him, gives him free reign of the remote, and wonders why this whole blended family thing was so difficult for Derek and Casey.
Edwin catches her staring and winks, and she blushes, turning away. Right, Lizzie remembers embarrassedly, that's why.