A/N: I was really shocked by the support for this fanfic! Thank you all so much for your kind reviews. Let's get started…
ThirdPOV
Casey couldn't move her head from Derek shoulder. She couldn't figure out how she had done what she had just done. She tried to reason with herself but nothing would stick. But the thought she was frightened of the most was that she didn't regret anything she had done with Derek.
Derek was silently panicking. He could feel Casey's breathing return to normal and was getting prepared for a Casey freak out. But it never came; instead Casey lifted herself off of him and held out her hand to help him up.
Casey took the biggest deep breath ever and allowed her shaken hands to straighten her shirt. She kept her eyes down as she spoke, "I better get back to my seat. You have a game to win."
Derek felt an ache in his chest. He was afraid to touch her but he wanted to look at her. So Derek gathered all of his courage and stepped closer to Casey.
Casey didn't dare move a muscle; she wasn't sure what he would do. She closed her eyes tight pretending to be invisible.
Derek carefully touched her chin to come face to face with her. He almost laughed when he saw her eyes closed.
"Case," he whispered.
Casey slowly opened her eyes and saw the deep warm brown eyes looking at her. His expression was soft but his eyes were on fire.
Derek could see how frightened she was. He knew that as soon as she left she'd have a break down and he'd probably never see her again. And he couldn't let that happen.
"Do you want to grab something to eat after the game?" Derek asked.
Casey responded with a "yes" before she even thought about it.
Classic Derek smirked and chuckled. He then placed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "Wish me luck?" he whispered.
Casey couldn't stop the blinding grin forming on her face, "Like you need luck."
Derek was fully smiling then, "Smartass." Derek gave Casey a final hug and let her go. "I'll see you after the game; just wait outside the locker room."
Casey nodded and hurried off.
Derek placed his hand over his heart; it was beating so fast he couldn't keep up with it. Best feeling ever. He took one last deep breath and began to get ready for his game.
Casey was just outside the locker room waiting for her blush to disappear. She took deep breathes as she made her way over to the concession stand for a bottled water. She drank half of it in a big gulp and held the cool bottle against her face. After a couple of minutes she returned to her seat.
Kennedy thought that Casey had ditched her and was relieved when she saw her walking back. Kennedy then noticed something off. Casey had a far off look and was a bit flushed.
"Hey, what happened?" Kennedy asked her.
Casey sat down and drank from her water bottle again. "I think I'm in big trouble."
Kennedy frowned as she studied Casey again, growing more worried. She snapped her fingers in front of her friends face to get her to focus. "Casey? What in the world happened?"
Casey turned to Kennedy and saw the true concern for her. "I saw Derek," Casey mumbled as she focused on Kennedy's face.
Kennedy placed her hand over Casey's. "Was he mad to find you've come to all his games or something?"
Casey shook her head. Derek was now on the ice and skating better than ever. Queen's was now up 4-2. "He was in the locker room; he's always had pregame jitter. They've gotten worse. He even went to the doctor… and Derek does not do doctors." Casey paused and began to think about the Derek she knew and the Derek she saw in the locker room. "He's changed… or at least I think he's changed."
Kennedy was trying to keep up with Casey's random thoughts. "A good change or a bad change?"
Casey shrugged, "He asked if we could go out after the game."
Kennedy smiled and realized something else had obviously happened in that locker room. But Kennedy knew Casey would spill as soon as she had time to process the information herself.
"I'll take the car back to the dorm then?" Kennedy asked.
Casey turned to her and nodded her head.
Both the girls turned back to the game, however, neither one was actually paying attention.
It was the end of the game and Queens had dominated the opposing team! 6-2! Derek made 2 goals himself and assisted 3.
Casey and Kennedy waited in their seats as everyone filed out of the arena. They both started walking towards the locker room but Kennedy held back a couple yards away from the door.
"Are you going to be okay? It's only your step-brother." Kennedy nudged Casey arm.
However, Casey didn't find it so amusing. She began to fidget even more with her Queen's hat she had been holding.
"Um, yeah," Casey nodded her head. "I've got you in my phone in case anything happens."
Kennedy sighed in frustration. She squared her shoulders and grabbed Casey forcing her to look her in the eyes. "Casey, this could be a great thing! You could rekindle with Derek and really form a friendship. Just take it slow, talk about what you two have been up to. Talk about stuff you two have in common— just like you were talking to me."
Casey seemed to snap out of whatever daze she was in and nodded her head. She realized Derek and her could actually be friends and not just stepbrother and sister. Whatever had happened in the locker room earlier must not be approached, thought Casey. She decided to not mention it at all. She wanted to see what this new Derek was all about first.
"You're right, it's only Derek. I can do this," Casey said out loud.
Kennedy smiled encouraging her friend and took the keys from her. "Alright, I'm going to head back to the dorm so I can finish my paper. Text me if anything goes wrong or if you need help. I'm here for you."
Casey rolled her eyes playfully. "You just want an excuse to not write your paper."
Kennedy narrowed her eyes at Casey. "You catch on way to fast."
The girls had a nice final laugh and went their separate ways.
Casey then saw Derek talking to an assistant coach. She held back a few feet from them, just enough space so she could still her the conversation.
"You were great tonight Derek! I've never seen you so excited for the game! What in the world happened in the locker room?" The assistant coach gushed at Derek.
Casey's eyes widen at the thought that Derek might actually tell him what happened.
Derek cough, clearly uncomfortable, "Uh, I just did some deep breathing. I needed a few moments to clear my head."
The coach nodded his head and slapped Derek on the back. "I'm proud of you. I was getting worried about your condition, but tonight, you proved me wrong. Go get some sleep kid!"
The coach laughed as Derek headed in her direction and Casey couldn't stop the blush from forming on her cheeks.
As soon as Derek caught sight of her he smirked. He felt confident knowing she decided to show up for their…. Date? Was this a date?
Derek slightly shook his head to clear the intruding thoughts. He was going to take this one step at a time. The first step is to rebuild a relationship with Casey again, even if that means becoming friends first.
Almost in a slow motion like trance Derek began to think how much he had missed her. Not the annoying step sister but the Casey who encouraged him and who always called him on his bullshit. She was the voice inside his head telling him what an idiot he was being when he was out. Or when he put off homework, it was Casey's voice he heard telling him to hit the books.
Approaching her now, she looked better than he remembered. His feelings would have to be put on hold for a while. He wanted to get to know Casey again, maybe fight here and there, because they wouldn't be them if they didn't.
"Hey," he said dropping his bag to the floor.
Casey on the other hand was trying desperately to focus on what he was saying. Derek had just showered and had thrown on his Queens t-shirt and sweats. Derek had grown into a man! Hockey was treating him well. Derek had always had a great body but college hockey had given him more defined abs and chest.
Casey felt a butterfly affect in her stomach that began to move south…
"Hi," she mumbled.
Derek caught Casey by surprise and hugged her. The hug only lasted a few seconds but she felt satisfied.
"So, how long have you been coming to my games?" Derek was smug that his wasn't her first game.
Casey rolled her eyes and shrugged. "I've been to them all."
That took Derek by surprise. "Really?"
Casey nodded and aimed to change the subject. "So want to grab something to eat? I'm starving."
"Sure, do you have your car or do you want to ride with me?" Derek asked while picking up his bag and hoisting it over his shoulder.
"My friend Kennedy took my car back to the dorm."
Casey and Derek both headed out of the arena together. Casey smiled as she seen the Prince. "She still runs?"
Derek laughed. "Of course. She's never let me down."
Casey laughed and knew the tension was broken. "So where are we going?" She asked once in the Prince.
Derek paused to think. "Well, the only thing that's open this time of night is the diner by campus."
Casey nodded knowing which diner Derek was referring to. The drive to the diner was a comfortable silence. Casey had missed hearing the hum of the Prince; it brought back memories.
Soon enough they were at the diner. Derek held open the diner door for Casey to which she just smiled and went ahead of him.
They were seated towards the back end in a nice corner booth.
Casey glanced over the menu already knowing what she was going to get.
"Chicken Caesar salad with a water?" Derek peaked over his menu to look at Casey.
Casey lifted an eyebrow in amusement. "Chicken Caesar salad with a vanilla milkshake," she shot back with a smirk.
"Ooo, living life on the edge now? College has changed you Case." Derek laughed.
The older waitress took their order and brought their drinks leaving Derek and Casey to talk.
Casey couldn't get a grip on the situation. Here she was sitting at diner with Derek…like they were a couple out on a late night date.
Derek could feel the tension rising up and knew he had to start the conversation.
"So, what have you been up to? I feel like I don't even know you. You now watch hockey and drink milkshakes? It's crazy!" Derek threw up his hands almost knocking over his Coke.
Casey just chuckled, "You act like it's been years."
Derek's smile flattened a bit, "It almost feels like it."
"I still do the same stuff I did back home. I go to class, I study, and I dance. Nothing has really changed, well, Kennedy has taught me to lighten up a bit." Casey smiled. "What about you?"
Derek shrugged. "Hockey and homework. Coach is a stickler for good grades. As much as it pains me, I too study a lot."
Casey shook her head. "Derek Venturi, studying."
Derek stared at his Coke not wanted to meet her eyes. "Things change, Case."
Casey careful reached her hand across the table and took his hand. "Change is good. If everything stayed the same, it'd be boring. Things have to blossom and change. Things have to move forward."
Derek didn't take his hand away but his grip did loosen. "Is that what you were trying to do? Move forward without me?"
Casey took a deep breath trying to control her heart rate. "Derek, we needed time part. College is about finding yourself. But even after the few months that have past, we still somehow come back together. I'm pretty sure we'll always be in each other's lives. We do share a family you know."
They both laughed, however, Derek wasn't fully satisfied with her answer. "So what now?"
Casey pulled back and rested her hands on her lap. "How about we try being friends? Hang out once in a while? Besides your hockey games?"
In truth, Derek knew he wouldn't be satisfied with just being friends. However, he knew Casey needed time. He just wasn't sure how much time his heart could give.
Derek forced a smile, "Yeah, I think we can do that."
The next morning Kennedy impatiently waited for Casey to wake up. Casey had gotten home late and she wanted details now!
Finally Casey arose from her bed to find Kennedy staring at her with a weird grin.
"Why are you staring at me?" Casey asked while she tried to awaken more.
"I want details now!" Kennedy couldn't contain her excitement any longer. "Where did you guys last night?"
Casey yawned and rubbed her eyes as she explained what happened the night before. Kennedy's shoulders slumped when she heard about what Casey asked of Derek.
"You asked Derek to be your friend?" Kennedy asked for confirmation. Casey nodded. Kennedy hung her head. "Oh, Casey," she said with a groan.
Casey was startled at her friends reaction she thought Kennedy would have been happy for her. "What?"
Kennedy thought about telling Casey about how Derek didn't deserve that but Kennedy realized that Casey didn't know why he didn't. "Tell me about what happened in the locker room?"
Casey blushed and tried to walk away but Kennedy blocked her and grinned. "See, now that reaction is not helping your case, Casey."
Casey rolled her eyes, "Nothing happened!"
Kennedy stoops her foot like a child. "Casey! Something totally happened, now spill!"
Casey flopped back onto her bed and covered her eyes. "Kennedy…" And Casey told her everything.
A/N: I'm already writing chapter 3! Sorry nothing…. Naughty…. Happened in this chapter. But it's looking pretty good for chapter 3!
Spilling lemonade on your computer will get apparently get you a new one….