Got My Mind Set on You (George Harrison), 3:52
"I can't believe you, Derek!"
"What? Was I supposed to declare my love in front of them? Or, did you forget? My dad and your mom!"
She glares at him. "That wasn't necessary. Is it too much to ask for more than a lotion set for Christmas? Derek, we're dating."
"Trust me, I noticed."
"That had better be a good thing," Casey snaps, unlocking the front door. She steps inside, tossing her coat down towards the chair without looking.
"Hey!"
Casey starts, and looks at the person who had shouted. "Marti? What are you doing here?"
"It's not just her," Derek points out, gesturing to Edwin, Lizzie, and their parents.
"Mom, what's going on?"
"Casey, dear," she begins.
George puts a hand on her arm. "I think, I'm speaking for both of us, when I say, kids, we're not stupid. Or blind."
Lizzie's face turns pale.
Nora clears her throat. "Casey, we just want to say, that… well, you can't help who you fall in love with."
'Thank you,' she mouths to her mother, not trusting herself to speak.
"So, Derek, why are we here?"
"Well, Dad, I wanted Casey to have a real Christmas in her apartment. And, I have an announcement. Merry Derek-us, Case."
She laughs, and opens the small, black box. She looks down at the tiny pendant, fingering it.
"A key?" The black and white diamonds sparkle in the light.
"Yeah. Because, for next term, you won't have to keep hiding a key outside for whenever I lock myself out. Casey MacDonald, you officially have your own apartment."
"What?!"
"And," he smiles tightly, "that leads to my announcement. I'm going to Spain."
"What?!" everyone yells.
"Smer-ek!" Marti laments.
"My photojournalism professor is in charge of the Spain study abroad term. He approached me after I turned in my first project, and said I should go. So, here I am. I leave next week."
"Next week?" Casey questions. "Already?"
"Classes start early. Is anyone going to say congratulations?"
With that, Nora puts on a cheery face. "Good luck, Derek. Merry Derek-us. Congrats."
Casey turns and runs up the stairs.