AN: I don't own LWD

#18 Candid Venturi Moment

Derek Venturi was driving his car home when a group of boys caught his eye. As he drove closer, he saw that it was Edwin, and it looked like he was about to get beat up. Derek quickly parked his car and ran over to the boys, however he didn't make it in time before Edwin got punched. Derek came between the boys and Edwin and pushed the boys off. "Get off of him" Derek screamed at them, standing in front of Edwin. "Touch him again, and you'll seriously regret it." Derek growled at the boys, and they ran off.

Derek then turned to Derek and put his hand on Edwin's shoulder and Edwin quickly shrugged his hand off. Derek looked at Edwin with a perplexed expression and Edwin replied, "What the hell did you do that for?! Those guys are gonna hate me and kill me some other time! You don't need to protect me, I can do that myself". Edwin then took off home, leaving Derek very confused.

When Derek arrived home, Edwin was not in sight, so Derek decided to leave him alone to give him some time to cool off. He went upstairs and entered Marti's room to say hello. He saw her on the floor struggling to do some homework, so he sat down beside her. "Hey Smarti need some help on your homework?" He asked. "No! I only want Edwin's help! Now get out!" She screamed at Derek.

Later that night Derek went to Casey's room and found her finishing up packing some of her furniture for college. Derek laid down on her bed and made herself comfortable. "Are you excited to leave for Queens in a few days?" Casey asked, laying down next to him. "Yeah." Derek replied absently. Casey nudged him in the arm, "Hey what's up?" Casey asked softy, looking up at him. Derek sighed and ran a finger though his hair, "I don't know, I mean yeah I'm so excited for college and being with you. But I don't know Edwin was being so weird today. He was about to get beat up, I defended him and then he snapped at me. Then I asked Marti if she wanted homework help and she yelled at me and said she only wanted Edwin" Casey sat in silence a moment then replied, "That's so funny, I wonder why that is. Maybe you should talk to them." She suggested. "Yeah maybe I will." Derek replied kissing her forehead.

The next morning, when Derek was pouring some cereal, he decide to ask for George's advice on the situation. "Derek I think Edwin and Marti are upset about you leaving for college, and they're trying to get used to life without you." George replied. "Derek smiled and sighed, "But I'm just going to college! They still are going to see me!" Derek replied, exasperated. "Yeah but you will be living away from them. I understand but I think maybe you should take them out and talk to them." George said calmly. Derek then decided to take George's advice and decided to take them out for dinner that night.

That night, Derek took Edwin and Marti out for pizza. The three sat in awkward silence for a while. Finally Derek couldn't take it anymore so he coughed and started, "So what's going on with you two?" he asked bluntly. Edwin and Marti looked at each other , but remained silent. "C'mon guys, we are not leaving until you talk to me," Derek urged.

Suddenly Marti blurted out, "We are going to miss you Smerek!" She then pouted and looked down. Derek then turned to Derek expectedly. Edwin took a breath, then started, "We are just so sad that you are leaving. Yeah we're pumped that you got into an amazing University like Queen's and it's great that you'll be with Casey, but it's going to be so weird not seeing you everyday. I guess we were just trying to get used to the feeling of no Derek." Edwin finished, he too looking down at his hand.

Derek was stunned, he didn't know how much the two were affected by him. He was actually touched. He then replied, "Hey guys, you aren't going to be without me. I'm going to University, not to Mars. I'm going to come home for long weekends and vacations, you'll visit me, and we can talk and skype as much as you two want. But no more freezing me out, okay?" Derek asked looking from Marti to Edwin. "Okay." The two agreed simultaneously.

Derek then stood up and grabbed the two into a big, rare hug. "I love you guys." He whispered into their ears, and hugging them tighter.