Chapter 10: Awkward Interludes
Casey walked into the house after school, still lost in her conflicted feelings about Derek. She kicked off her shoes by the door and stepped into the living room, stopping abruptly at the sight in front of her.
Derek was sprawled on the couch, his arm casually draped around a girl who was leaning into him, their lips locked in an unabashed kiss.
Casey's stomach twisted. Her first instinct was to leave quietly, but something in her refused. She cleared her throat loudly, startling the pair.
The girl laughed, pushing Derek playfully away. "I should probably get going anyway," she said, standing and smoothing her skirt. She picked up her bag and turned back to Derek with a teasing smile. "Thanks for the study date. Not that you did much studying."
Derek smirked, leaning back against the couch. "What can I say? I'm a hands-on learner."
The girl laughed again and waved goodbye as she left. Casey stood frozen in place, her jaw tight, refusing to look at Derek.
"What?" Derek asked, his voice casual as he noticed her glaring at the empty doorway.
Casey didn't answer, brushing past him on her way to her room.
At dinner that evening, the usual family chaos surrounded the table. George and Nora discussed plans for the weekend, while Edwin and Lizzie argued over who should get control of the TV after dinner.
Casey sat quietly, poking at her food. She couldn't help but steal glances at Derek, who seemed entirely unbothered, laughing at something Marti said.
When Derek's eyes suddenly met hers, Casey quickly averted her gaze, pretending her mashed potatoes were the most fascinating thing in the world.
A small smirk tugged at Derek's lips. He didn't say anything, but the silent exchange didn't go unnoticed by him.
The rest of the family, however, was oblivious, carrying on their conversations as though nothing was amiss.
Later that night, Casey lay in bed, her thoughts swirling with frustration, jealousy, and confusion. She was about to force herself to sleep when she heard Derek's guitar again.
This time, the melody was light and playful, a sharp contrast to the slower, melancholic tunes she'd heard before. It felt like a reflection of his easygoing, devil-may-care attitude, the one that infuriated her as much as it fascinated her.
Casey let out a soft sigh, her lips curling into an involuntary smile. Despite everything, Derek's music had a way of soothing her—reminding her of the parts of him she couldn't ignore, no matter how hard she tried.
Why does he always get under my skin? she thought, closing her eyes as the music played on.