Chapter 5: New York, Here We Come

Disclaimer: Please see first chapter.

AN:

OMG! I'm so sorry this took so long. I was stuck on how to write Jessica and Bobby, I really wanted to do them justice…I'm not sure how that turned out yet. *shrugs*

Also, I get migraines – the pain and the effects of them last AT LEAST 15-20 days a month, the effects that I get are super light sensitivity and dizziness and apathetic, among others – which also played a part in this chapter taking forever. I'm sorry again.

JumpingOverTheMoon mentioned Ivy's reaction to DK's friendship/growing relationship, and I'm not entirely sure she'll make an appearance, other than her brief part in chapter one, in this story. This story was meant to show Karen's process dealing with emotions. However, it seems to have grown into some sort of journey into and exploration of DK's relationship. So, you never know…but if she's not in this one again, I'm already planning on a sequel and she'll be in that one for sure.

Also, I'm so glad that you all enjoy this so much! I've always thought I had a pretty good handle on dialogue, but was lacking when it came to everything else. So, I'm happy to see that I'm doing okay with the rest as well. :)

One of my teachers said that a lot of his students say that people roll their eyes in stories, but he has never actually seen anybody roll their eyes in real life, I told him that I roll my eyes at least once a day. He didn't believe me, but when I talk to my mom on the phone she always calls me out on it – she knows what's up. Anyway, all that to say, I know I have people rolling their eyes a lot, but that's because it happens a lot in my life. *shrugs* Take it how you want.

On to the story!

Karen walks to her room and hopes that Sue is there. She opens the door, and doesn't see anyone. So, she closes the door and heads down the hall to Jessica and Bobby's room, hoping they're all there. She knocks on the door and waits. She gets her phone out to call if no one answers the door, but just as she's pulling up the phone app, the door opens.

"Iowa!" Jessica exclaims. "Just the person we've been waiting for."

In the background, she hears footsteps and "Iowa?" from Bobby, Dennis, and Sue.

"Hey guys. Can you please not interrogate me for a few minutes? I promise I'll answer all your questions later, but right now I need you to get ready to go and pack a change of clothes." Karen states without letting any of them interrupt.

Karen looks into all of their eyes and they see that she needs them for…something, and isn't up for any questions just yet.

Various forms of "sure" and "of course" are heard amongst them rushing to get ready. Karen waits for them all in Jessica and Bobby's room and within ten minutes everyone's ready to go.

"Alright. Let's go." Karen says as they all head to the elevator.

"I know you said no questions," Jessica starts while linking her arm through Karen's elbow, "but can I ask where we're going that's making you be this mysterious?"

As they get into the elevator, Karen thinks it's only fair that she share their destination with her companions. "New York."

"What?" Bobby exclaims. "We can't go back to New York! We have rehearsal and previews tomorrow!"

"Guys, guys!" Karen says loudly above all their voices. "I know. Trust me, I do. But do you really think I'd be doing this, if it were my idea? I was told to come get you and bring you all to the lobby and that's what I'm doing. You can ask the person behind everything when we get down there, okay?" She looks at everyone in the elevator with her, and they all nod, curious as to who is behind all this.

They depart the elevator, and the four not in the know see the last person they thought they would be seeing – the Dark Lord himself, Derek Wills.

"Umm…Karen? I don't know if you know this, but that's Derek, Derek Wills…our fearsome director…the Dark Lord." Jessica stage whispers.

Karen only nods, smiling. "He's the mastermind." Karen says ominously, and a little amused.

The other four just looked at her eyebrows raised.

"All right Derek, the gang's all here." Karen jokes. "Now, you explain to them what's going on, because they want answers and I can't right now." Karen tells him, pleading with her eyes.

"No problem love." Derek then addresses the group. "Let's get in the car first, and then I will answer your questions." Derek says placing his hand on the small of Karen's back and leading the group to the waiting car.

The four friends watch Derek and Karen's interaction. They watch as Derek unconsciously places his hand on her back – almost on the opposite hip, and how Karen leans into him laying her head on his shoulder comfortably. They share a look with raised eyebrows. They were definitely asking questions about this.

As they're walking out to the car, Karen speaks to Derek quietly. "You know, they're going to think we're sleeping together, right? They're going to ask a lot of questions about the last couple of days, which will lead to questions about how we became friends. Are you okay with that?"

Derek looks down at her and kisses her forehead. "It's fine love. They're your friends. Plus, it's not like it wouldn't come out eventually." He half shrugs, not wanting to jostle Karen's head.

"You're going to be nice, right? Like you are with me?" Karen asks, only partly joking. She looks up at him as they reach the car. At first, her eyes are slightly narrowed jokingly, and then they change into those puppy dog doe eyes that he will never be able to say no to.

"Really? You have to give me the eyes? Fine, I'll be nice. I'll be so nice that cotton candy won't melt in my mouth. Okay? That's really nice." Derek concedes with a laugh at the look on Karen's face as he said that. "Probably not as nice as I am with you, but that's only because you're the only one that gets that privilege." He finishes with a gentle smile and kiss on her temple.

Karen just smiles and rolls her eyes, knowing that's the best she'll get out of him.

Derek laughs, loudly. "You know what? I think I'm going to enjoy this, because being nice will catch them off guard and they'll be even more wary than they are now. Oh this is good." He jokes squeezing Karen's side and bringing their hips together.

Karen just laughs and shakes her head, knowing she brought this on herself.

The four dancers following them watched their interaction with rapt attention.

Jessica whispers so only the other three dancers can hear her. "What the hell is going on?"

"Wasn't he dating Ivy, like, last week?" Bobby asks.

"That's what Ivy said, but this…" Jessica holds her hands in front of her toward Derek and Karen and shrugs. "I don't know. They look really familiar."

"He's laughing with and kissing her?" Bobby questions. "Has anybody ever seen the Dark Lord this…comfortable or relaxed with anyone before?"

They just shake their heads, continuing to watch the scene in front of them.

"I believe this bears repeating, what the hell is going on?" Jessica whispers just before they reach the two that they were following.

Derek notices that they caught up to them, and his face sobers up quickly. "Alright everyone. Into the car." He gestures to the limo on the street before them with his free hand.

Everyone looks on in shock, but quickly move to get inside the car.

Jessica and Bobby on one of the side benches, Sue and Dennis on the other, and Derek and Karen on the forward facing bench.

"Why are we taking a limo?" Jessica asks after everyone is inside getting settled into their seats.

"Because I'm not supposed to drive, especially long distances. And this was one car I knew we'd all be able to fit in and talk." Derek explains.

Karen turns to look at him. "Why aren't you supposed to drive?" She asks curiously.

"My migraines have some…special side effects and symptoms – like dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, light sensitivity, motion sensitivity, among other things – that make driving not safe." Derek explains.

Karen nods understandingly.

"Okay. We're in the car on our way back to New York. Would either of you care to explain what it is that we're doing, exactly?" Bobby states more than asks.

Derek nods. "You guys saw Karen last night right?" He asks the four while gesturing to Karen who's made herself comfortable in the seat next to him, leaning on his chest with her eyes closed.

"Yes." They all answer.

"Well, she caught Dev cheating on her with Ivy earlier that night. She came to find me asking for a piano, and I brought her to that café." Derek begins explaining. "She played and sang for four hours straight. I'm not sure when you guys came in, but her voice was strong and steady the entire four hours in the midst of her tears."

"Oh my God! Karen." Jessica says sympathetically.

Karen just shakes her head and holds her hand out for her to stop, then she opens her eyes and looks them each in the eye. "Please. I don't need or want your sympathy. What I did last night? That was me, working through all the emotions and getting over it. Okay?" She asks firmly.

They all nod. "Okay, but we're here if you need anything." Bobby tells her.

Karen just nods before closing her eyes once again.

"Now, we're going back to New York to help Karen move out of the apartment she shared with Dev and temporarily into my apartment." Derek tells them the plan for when they get to New York.

"Okay." Jessica answers. "Now, are you two sleeping together?" She heads straight into the most immediate question she wanted answered.

"No?" Derek sort of questions. "Not technically. I mean, we've slept together, but we haven't had sex." He says it straight, no use beating around the bush.

They look at each other to gauge the other's reactions. They're not sure if they buy it.

As if sensing this, Karen speaks. "Guys, it's true. We're friends. He was just helping me out as a friend." Her voice is quiet, like she's falling asleep, but they know she's telling them the truth.

"How did you two become friends? I thought there was some…" Jessica pauses to think of what she's trying to say.

Bobby comes to her rescue. "Some revulsion or burned bridges after you found out he was sleeping with Ivy." He tells Karen, while finishing Jessica's question.

"I…" Derek starts then pauses, but remembers he told Karen he'd be nice and play along. "I apologized for the second audition I made her go through."

Karen smirks. "He did a casting couch the night of my first audition. He wanted me to show him I could be as sexy as Marilyn. He wanted me to show him everything." She explains why she had less than pleasant feelings for the man she was currently cuddled up to.

The other four look at Derek mildly shocked, and Derek continues where she left off. "Karen was ready to storm out of my apartment, but then she turned and entered the bathroom. When she came out, she was wearing one of my white button downs with only two of the middle buttons buttoned. She was walking to me slowly, singing Happy Birthday Mr. President. She straddled my lap, and as she ended the song, whispers 'Never gonna happen'. Then she got up and left." He tells them, sounding impressed.

"Wow." The dancers replied, trying to picture the scene they described.

"He came to my apartment a few months later, a couple weeks after the workshop, to apologize." Karen begins fondly.

Derek interrupts. "She opened the door in her lace and satin nightie." He tells them laughingly.

"Yea, yea. We all know that's what you'd remember." Karen jokes, punching his chest lightly, and rolling her eyes. "Anyway, he apologized for the casting couch and thanked me for all my hard work and help as Marilyn that week." She smirks up at him – two can play this game Mr. Wills.

"Hey now!" Derek jokes. "You only asked me to play nice, not bare my soul to this lot!" He continues joking quietly, although all the occupants can clearly hear him.

The dancers look on, amazed by the two people in front of them. Both are more comfortable and…themselves than any of them have seen before. It's as if a weight or something was lifted off them and they're free.

"Can we save the rest of your questions for while we're packing? Last night was long and draining, especially for this one." Derek asks squeezing Karen a little.

The dancers all nod, understanding that it's going to be another long night and they should all rest while they can.

"Brilliant. Let's all rest for the next three, three and a half hours before we start packing and moving." Derek says to everyone.

The four dancers watch as he maneuvers both their bodies to lying positions on the bench, while Karen just sort of…knows what he's doing and moves her body with his. It's as if they've been doing this for years. She comfortable lays on top of him their chests, stomachs, and hips aligned with her head on his shoulder in the crook of his neck. His arms around her waist and his chin resting on the top of her head. Their legs intertwined.

Jessica, Bobby, Sue, and Dennis just watch in awe. They are too shocked, yet not really at the same time, to do anything more than stare for a minute. Once they get over their shock, they all lay down on their benches as well, side-by-side instead of on top of each other, to get comfortable for the next few hours on the road.