Chapter Eight

That afternoon Casey crawled into bed next to Phillip. It was the middle of the day, and it was hot. The cool cotton sheets felt so pleasant as she nestled closer to Phillip. She could feel him stirring next to her, but he did not wake. Casey watched the ceiling fan slowly churn above her head. She felt suddenly so odd lying next to Phillip. It frustrated her that he hadn't made much of an effort with her family. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. He was supposed to be funny and warm to her family. Instead, it seemed like he had put up a barrier. At dinner, he'd barely even smiled during George's lame jokes. That was a red flag instantly. And Marti had already voiced that she didn't like him. Another red flag.

Casey had wanted to bring her boyfriend to meet her family and have him be a part of that family. So far, that wasn't happening. Did Phillip even care? Casey sighed and continued to watch the ceiling fan, listening to the slow creak of the gears. Outside, a june bug buzzed through the screen. Casey brushed a strand of hair off of her sticky forehead. She just wanted Phillip to at least try. He'd said he hadn't felt well. Understandable. But Casey knew him well enough to know when he most likely was stretching the truth for his own benefit. Phillip stirred again next to her, this time blinking himself awake.

"Hey," he said, sleepily.

"Hi. Just checking to see if you feel any better?" Casey propped herself up on her elbow, "Do you?"

"A little. I was able to get some rest. Now it's just a dull headache. Nothing too bad though, but I think I know what will help make it better."

"And what's that?" Casey asked, not really paying attention.

"You know," Phillip smirked suggestively. Casey felt a flush of frustration. She was on vacation with her family. Derek could walk in any minute. There was no way she could possibly have sex with him now! How could it even be on his mind? Just outside she could hear the kids laughing by the swing set. She felt infuriated and sick that he'd even suggest such a thing. Didn't he understand this was not a private get-away? That her family was right outside?

"Phillip, we can't."

"Of course we can. Who's going to stop us?"

"Me," Casey pulled away from his touch, "My family is just outside. There aren't blinds - just screens over the window. Derek could walk in any minute..."

Phillip grunted frustratedly, "Who cares. Derek's an adult. He knows that adults have needs. Needs that some of us haven't had met since we got here," Phillip scowled.

Casey was beginning to get angry, "Phillip, no! You need to stop asking this of me. I can't. We are sharing a cabin with my stepbrother."

"And how is that my fault?" His voice as starting to rise, and Casey tried to glance out the window to see if she could see anyone. She silently prayed he'd keep his voice down. It was embarrassing to her that her family might hear him shouting. She prayed he'd just lower his voice, just a little. She didn't want them to hear them fight. She didn't want them to hear him yelling at her. It was mortifying the way he was speaking to her, "I didn't ask to come on this trip, and I sure as hell did not ask to share a cabin with your stepbrother!"

Casey paled. She could feel the blood draining from her face. Was it getting warmer in the cabin, or was it just her? She stood from the bed, "And what does that mean? I thought you wanted to come on this trip. I thought you wanted to meet my family."

"Casey, we are adults now. We don't need family. All we need are ourselves. I have been with you for a while now, Casey. You never were big on family and that's kind of why I liked you. It was just us. You kept to yourself. Your family didn't interfere."

"They don't interfere. I...I forgot how big a part of me they are. Over the years I forgot what they mean to me. But being here this week has reminded me what I've missed out on all these years."

Phillip grimaced, "What? Scavenger hunts and barbecues?"

"Yes! And Lizzie having her first break up. And Marti having her first crush. And Edwin going to prom and how handsome he looked in his tux. My mom and George and seeing how happy they are. I've missed so much. I've missed seeing the people they've become. And I can never get that back. But I am here this week to change that. And I wanted you to meet them. I thought you could joke around with Edwin and kick a soccer ball with Lizzie. I thought you could be civil with Derek and play with Marti. I thought you'd care about what's so important to me." Casey realized then that he did not. All the memories of Phillip being too busy, too preoccupied, too selfish to listen or care about her interests came flooding into her brain. When was the last time he'd ever really made an effort for her? He couldn't even take her to see a Broadway play?

"They've never been important to you."

"They've always been important to me!" Casey realized she was shouting now, and her cheeks stained red, "Phillip, they are my family. I love them more than anything in the world..."

"More than me? More than us?"

Casey inhaled sharply, "If you can't get along with my family, that speaks on you. Not on me."

"I just don't understand. You never, ever visited them once when you were with me..."

"And that was my mistake!"

Suddenly the door opened and Derek called through the privacy curtain, "Hey...is everything okay in here?" Casey's head whipped around to the curtain. Had he heard them fighting? She was mortified. Derek already didn't like Phillip. Why give him even more of a reason? She wished he'd just leave them be and go back outside. Who else had heard them fighting?

"How about you just mind your business," Phillip scoffed.

"Hey," Casey jumped in, "Don't talk to him like that."

"I can talk to him how I like," Phillip shoved her aside, "I never asked to share a cabin with him. I never asked for him to constantly be hanging around. And you are going to defend him?"

"Of course I am."

"Right...because he's your brother."

"Step brother," Casey and Derek said in unison.

"Same thing!" Phillip shook his head. Casey noticed that his hands were clenched into fists and his knuckles were a ghostly white, "Unbelievable. First you won't just let me have sex with you because you're so scared your family will see or hear. You don't let us have any privacy time together. You want me to best friends with everyone. I'm not. That's not me. I don't do scavenger hunts and I don't do barbecues and I don't do families!"

"Whoa," Derek stepped in, holding a hand up, "Were you pressuring her to have sex with you?"

"It's none of your damn business."

Derek chuckled, "Oh, Phil. That's where you're mistaken. Where Casey is concerned? It's always my business."

Phillip stepped closer towards Derek, "I don't know what kind of unresolved feelings you have, but you need to get over them," Phillip's face was getting redder, "She doesn't talk about you for the whole time I've known her. Your name never once came up. And suddenly this week, you two both act like you're each other's most important person?" Phillip made a gagging noise, "I don't understand. She never mentioned you - not once. I didn't even know she had another step brother. But then you two see each other and it's all Casey and Derek and the two of you sneaking out together at night."

"We went for a walk!" Casey interjected, "We couldn't sleep."

"Whatever," Phillip waved her off, dismissively, "Casey is mine now. And I guess I'm just confused why this woman I have been together with - who I thought I knew - is totally someone different. The Casey I know doesn't do camping. She'd miss her curling iron too much. The Casey I know would be disgusted at potato salad and meat cooked outside. The Casey I know could care less about attachments like family."

Derek was about to say something, when suddenly a quiet little voice said, "I'm...I'm not yours."

"Yeah well..." Derek turned and looked to Casey. Had she said something?

"What was that?" Phillip snapped towards her.

"I-I said I'm not yours. I'm...I'm not yours, Phillip. I'm not...I'm not your property," Casey was gaining confidence as she continued, "I am my own person. I make my own decisions. If I want to be a family person, I will be a family person. If I want to spend time with my family, then I will. If I want to go camping without a curling iron, then I will go camping. If I want to eat potato salad with over two hundred calories a serving, then damn it I will! The Casey you knew was still the same me - just...I had my priorities mixed up. But I am my own person. I don't belong to you, Phillip. I belong to myself."

Derek ran a hand through his hair. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride sweep over him. Casey had actually stood up for herself. Good for her. The cabin became suddenly quiet. Phillip stood there, gaping. Casey was breathing heavily after finally saying what she'd wanted to say for a long time. Derek stood there, shifting his weight and suddenly becoming fascinated with a dust bunny on the floor. No one said a single word. No one really knew what to say after that. Casey was the one to finally break the silence -

"I...I don't think I can do this Phillip. I need to be with a guy who will love - or at least try to love - my family as much as I do. I need a guy who will respect my decisions to do, quite frankly, whatever the hell I'd like to do - if that's going camping or going to a museum opening. Maybe that means attending a middle school talent show, or going to a charity gala. Whatever! I just need someone to be by my side - on my side."

"Well then," Phillip cleared his throat awkwardly, "Maybe I should just leave then." He sounded so smug - as if there was no way Casey would just let him leave. Oh no, she wouldn't just let him go. She'd beg him to stay. She'd hold on to his arm. She'd apologize for picking a fight. And they'd continue on with their lives. Maybe he could convince her to cut this miserable trip short by five days and they could just go home. Home to New York and out of these God-forsaken woods! No more McDonald/Venturi clan, and no more Derek!

"I think that's best."

Phillip nearly choked on his own saliva. Surely he hadn't heard her correctly. Derek, who'd been still staring at the lump of dust trying to avoid eye contact suddenly glanced up towards Casey.

"What about your things, in New York?"

Casey shrugged, "I will have them shipped to Toronto."

"What?" Both Derek and Phillip looked to her in disbelief.

"I'm coming home," Casey turned to Derek, "Where I belong."

"Your home is in New York. Don't be stupid," Phillip replied, smugly. She was just bluffing. Just trying to stir up something dramatic. She'd get over herself in a few minutes when this whole tirade of hers had passed, and she'd come to her senses.

"Her home is wherever she says her home is," Derek took a step forward so that he was standing next to Casey.

"I can't believe this" Phillip sputtered, "What about your job?"

"There're jobs in Toronto."

"Where will you live?" Phillip crossed his arms over his chest. She was going to change her mind. This was all just for show. But she wasn't actually serious. He knew her better than that...

"That's the thing about family," Casey smiled, moving just the slightest bit closer to Derek, "You're always welcome with them."