AN: Well in this Chapter Casey will finally meet the rest of her new „Family" Let's see what Derek and Casey make of each other...

Chapter 5 Meeting the family

The drive towards the McDonald-Venturi house was spent in relative silence as Casey simply fell asleep quickly after sitting down in the car. When they were close she awoke again curiously asking her mother how long it would take for them to get there.

„Not long only ten minutes now. Are you excited about meeting you're new family honey?" Nora asked her daughter happily. „Step-family." Casey corrected absentmindedly. „No blood-relation." She mumbled under her breath, but this were just her nerves going wild. She was scared what if this new family was just like her father? What if Casey was never good enough for these people? Would they notice the things she did to keep herself safe?

The car finally came to a stop in front of a red house with a nice looking front porch. „So, are you excited yet?" Nora turned towards her eldest daughter who looked as white as a ghost and like she might puke, but what would this skinny girl puke? Blood? Because there sure as hell didn't seem like any food went into her while she'd been living with Nora's Ex-Husband.

Nora had a terrible suspicion dawning on her as she looked at the pale girl. Dennis had always used to be a drinker. Chugging down his one peg or two after a particularly rough day at work. Had that gotten worse? Was this why her daughter was in such a state?

Casey meanwhile was berating herself as she got out of the car still carrying her sports bag with her. She took a deep breath and looked back to her mom who was getting out of the car with a sort of panicked look on her face. Was that disappointment in her face? But soon the weird look was replaced by a warm smile which seemed to be reserved for Casey. She returned the smile in earnest this time and waited for her mother to join her and open the front door.

Both woman walked through the doorway together. „Well call this place home, now honey. I'll make sure it becomes one for you." Nora was beaming at Casey who was looking around the house a bit unsure of herself. She seemed lost. That#s when Lizzy came bounding down the stairs engulfing her sister in a huge hug.

„Lizard!" Casey shouted out happily hugging her sister close to herself. A genuine smile swept across her face as she pressed the younger girl against herself. Nora visibly relaxed. Whatever Dennis might have done, at least he hadn't broken their daughters spirits completely. „You just have to tell me all about New York, Case!" Lizzy was excitedly chatting away while Nora looked at Casey asking her if she was overwhelmed with her eyes. Casey answered her mom with a smile saying „I'm-fine-She's-just-happy-to-see-me-It's-okay".

Casey once again hugged her sister to her taking in her smell and enjoying simply beeing close. A few minutes later a little girl about 6 years old came bounding down the stairs. She was wearing cute cat-like ears and had a tail attached to her pajamas. „Liiiizzzyyy" She said „Is this Casey?" Her voice was sweet. „Hello, little girl. Yes I am Casey and who is this beautiful little cat lady I am talking to?" Casey asked the little girl getting to her knees and smiling at the girl.

„I am Marti and I am a cat!" The girl exclaimed loudly. Casey smiled at her and held out her hand for the girl to shake. She didn't take it. „Well, I'm Casey and I love little kittens such as you." „Cats don't shake hands.." Marti said unsure. „Well but kittens do shake paws, don't they? Shall we shake paws then?" Casey asked holding out her hand like a paw. The girl happily shook it and bounded off „In search for a fat mouse to eat".

„She's cute." I say turning towards my mom when I notice the the teenage boy leaning against the staircase with a look of nonchalance on his features. „Derek, why don't you come and greet Casey?" Nora asks a look of slight exasperation on her face. The brown-haired boy didn't seem to listen to Nora as he stood on the top of the staircase staring down at Casey through unusually intense brown orbs. He was wearing sneakers and a ripped jeans along with a ripped t shirt and a leather jacket on his shoulders. All about his appearance screamed „Calculated and calloused"

„Who's this emo-chick? And what's she doing in our house?" He asked looking her up and down quickly. Assessing her and declaring her as „Uncool" by the look on his face. He had an aura of a certain authority over this place about him which clashed with Casey and it irked her that she'd been called an „Emo" by him. „Manners, Derek!" Nora's voice came out a bit sharper than she'd intended. „This is my daughter Casey. You remember I told you about it. She's only a few months younger than you."

„Casey." Derek let the name hang on his tongue for a minute. „Nope...Don't remember you ever telling me about her." He watched the look of raw pain go across the girls face as it fell and decided to backtrack. Whatever was going on she seemed to have real issues... „Oh, wait...is this the other daughter you wouldn't stop talking about? Like...non-stop talking..." Derek was pleased with himself when the girl didn't look this hurt any longer. Her eyes were unusually blue. A type of blue he'd never seen before. A blue that seemed to be intensified tenfold by her blue hair. He took in her look and declared her an Emo-chick. But she seemed toned, underweight maybe but toned. But what seriously got to him were her eyes. It's like they were a window into her soul, at least it appeared that way to him. He could see that she'd been through tough times. He decided to lay off for now and quickly disappeared back into his room. A few minutes after he'd reached his room he noticed that he hadn't really introduced himself to her yet.

Casey meanwhile was looking at where he disappeared off to with confusion written on her face. „That was Derek?" She asked turning toward her mother for confirmation of the fact. Her mother nodded. „Don't mind him he's always like that." Nora said jokingly. When another teenage-boy waltzed into the room. He seemed to be Lizards Age.

He looked at her and said „Wow, are you Dereks new Girlfriend? Damn you look hot. Edwin Venturi, pleased to meet you. If things ever don't work out with my brother...I'm you're man I'm waay funnier than he is." He started shaking Casey's hand. Who was completely taken by surprise by this clown. She laughed heartily patting the boys head and indicating her mom she'd explain herself. „Well, honey, I think things won't ever quiet work out between us, because I'm actually older than you are and secondly I am Nora's „Other" daughter, though I doubt that would be a problem. You seem funny kid, but you're not my type." Casey was joking around with this boy she'd just met. Nora seemed pleased that Casey wasn't clashing with the other kids even tough she wasn't all too sure about the thing that just went down with Derek. Within minutes her daughter had found a way into her families heart, this pleased Nora immensely.

„Where is my room mom?" Casey asked. „Well, seeing as we thought you'd appreciate some privacy while you settled in we've prepared the basement for you. I'm sorry been decorated the way you're father made me believe you'd like it..." Nora's voice trailed off. She'd made a little studio of Caseys room so she could dance down there because Nora had thought that was one of her passions. It was just now that Nora noticed one of Caseys Bags was actually a Guitar. „Do you play?" Nora asked surprised her Ex-Husband had never told her anything about Casey and music.

„Yes, I do." Casey was looking down on her Guitar Case lovingly. „I love it." She added and thought about the sleek black guitar laying in the case which had a glittery pink scull and crossbones on it and a pink signature of one of her absolute favorite artists on it, too.

„Do you mind if I get settled in?" Casey asked as she was shown her room, which was indeed decorated to match the tastes of a girl who worshiped dancing. „Not at all Honey, take you're time. Dinners around 8." Nora told her daughter and left her alone.

Casey finally let out the breath she'd been holding ever since she walked into this house...

She knew she needed to do somethign about the pressure she was feelign and she knew she needed to do it quickly. Without much thought she flipped open her sports-bag and took out a blade. She pulled down her tube jeans and pulled up her thigh. Gently she caressed the older healed wounds before taking the blade down on her skin. She took in a sharp breath as she felt the stinging pain and moaned out in delight. Finally some of the pressure on her shoulders was easing off... She cleaned the cut with alcohol she'd bought along and dressed the wound, before taking off her jean and exchanging it for a pair of jogging pants. She lay down on the bed. It didn't seem that bad, beeing here...

AN: So Casey's finally met the rest of the family. Who will see right through her lies? Will she be able to fool her mother along to the whole family?