Post by Trevor Williams on Apr 1, 2012 15:26:40 GMT -8
Casey Winslow = Me
Serena Riley = Layni
Thursday, Jan. 11, 2000
Remind him again why he was here? Remind him again why he was actually about to ask Serena for help? Like she'd actually believe him. He was a man, and in these sorts of situation, men usually didn't get listened to or believed. She would just run him into the ground, tell him how sick and twisted his mind was, how wrong it was for him to do what he did, how lame it was for him to make excuses, would call him pathetic, just like Evie had. He was voluntarily going to get a talking to from Serena. It just seemed...unnatural.
But, desperate times call for desperate measures, and this really was a desperate time and what he was about to do, a desperate measure. If he didn't do something quick, that worm of a headmaster would manage to get Evie so poisoned against him. He had no doubt he would try. Those looks...personal reasons for trying. No way he could have known that day at The Three Broomsticks. Trey had looked just as shocked as any other person might have. But, all the same, even so, Casey wasn't sure whether the 'nice' headmaster would leave his and Evie's relationship as just a friendship. Nice to Casey's face, but he saw no reason why Trey wouldn't stab him in the back.
So, here he was, feeling nervous as hell, walking from the room he'd taken up temporary residency in to Serena's room. If anything, he would find out where the hell his son was. He'd tried his parent's, the Weasley's (Mrs. Weasley wouldn't talk to him and Arthur had told him he couldn't say with a disapproving air), even her parents. Thomas had given him a run-around as to what problems they were having that he would be looking for his son. How Casey loathed that man even if he loved his daughter.
As he paused outside Serena's door, Casey let out his breath before reaching out and knocking, halfway hoping she wouldn't be there. Now that he had knocked, he felt like ditching. Damn politeness!
After seeing the papers lately Serena wasn't sure what to think. Her two best friends hadn't been doing well by eachother lately. In fact, things between Evie and Casey had been pretty dismal but she hadn't mentioned it because as much as she cared for both of them she was pretty sure they didn't get involved. When the pictures and the artical in the paper showed up on her doorstep though she knew she was going to be seeing at least one of the unhappy couple coming to her for advice. It was sad really. They had been the wonder couple all for but once incident in school and before the Dark Lord she was sure they were the happiest two people the world had ever seen. Apparently things were getting to them worse than ever.
Everytime she read the artical she questioned it. The fact that it was written by a gossip writer that worked for the paper in a way worse than Skeeter helped her believe something was up. She also knew Casey well enough to know unless he couldn't help it he would never cheat...maybe get drunk, maybe go into a deep depressive state, maybe even threaten divorce, but never would he intentionally do that to Evie...
What could have caused him to do what he did if he didn't mean to though? A picture was worth a thousand words and there were different ones in the paper and the Quibbler to choose from. At least six all together not counting other sources of news to choose from. Serena supposed she could give the guy a chance, after all she had sort of been wrong last marriage crisis they had, hadn't she? Maybe the girl had used veela charms or was a veela...love potions...mind wipes...there were options but why would she exercise them. Casey wasn't that great for a guy. Well he was but not good enough to put so much work into especially if he was already beyond taken.
She sighed and walked to the door with a small weary smile. "I had a feeling you'd show up soon, suprised Evie hasn't come by yet but I suppose Trevor has been helping her out..."
Casey was aware of the Daily Prophet article due to some rather rude gestures and words and the lessened respect he'd been getting from students. Some Slytherins were going so far as to try to worsen the rumors, but he'd done his best to ignore it. To him, the students would think whatever they thought. He'd yet to see the pictures or the article itself. He didn't think he wanted to. He had a clear enough memory of it on his own that he'd been trying to block out.
Stupid girl had to let him go ruin his life. He couldn't fully blame her, though. He should've been smart enough to walk away a few times before when he started noticing how hard it was to look away when she'd lean over or to keep his eyes on her face instead of not letting them wander. He'd ruined it himself, but she sure as hell hadn't helped. And he'd thought she'd actually cared and tried to help him sort through his problems. Apparently not. Women weren't to be trusted unless he'd known them a while.
When Serena opened the door, Casey made no sign of a smile, just kept his face as it was. He was tired, even if he didn't admit it to himself or let himself feel it, from lack of sleep, late night last night trying to decide what to do the next time he saw Evie. He kind of even made a bit of a scowl at the mention of Trey.
"Oh, I'm sure he's having the time of his life right now. He gets to play body guard, comforter, and hero to my wife and keep us from talking to make things better. Yep, Trey's definitely enjoying himself." He let out a sigh, shaking his head and looking back to Serena. "I'm sorry. Things have just been really getting under my skin lately, stressful. How've you been, Serena?"
Serena smiled sympathetically. She had to say that unlike last time something like this had happened, she wasn't sure who to lash out on, so she had to keep her judgements to herself, but there was something fishy about it. Not even Casey would do things like that openly and then deny going after Evie. He probably would have been more comfortable acting like he did in private and going after Evie. It really wasn't right at all...
Serena ushered him in and shut the door with a weary smile. She loved her friends dearly but they needed to figure this out for good so that she wouldn't have to play counciler every five years, her own relationship was bad enough.
"Good, I guess...I mean, classes are going well, but things with Jared are...they aren't really how I imagined things so far..."
Casey came in, noting her weary smile and wondering what was up with her, but he figured he'd likely find out soon enough. If he didn't, he'd just have to ask and find out. He nodded when she said that things weren't going as she'd imagined they'd be going with Jared, wondering if he dare ask just how she had imagined they would go, deciding what the heck? Just let her get that off her shoulders, especially if she was going to be helping him in a bit, possibly. "Why's that? What had you had in mind?"
Serena smiled slightly and shook her head, ebaressed that she even had brought it up. "He just doesn't spend much time with me and when he does it seems like he's always interested in something else. We've been dating for a few years now and it still feels like we've only been dating for a week with the way he acts. I know he's comfortable around me and I know he loves me, its just sometimes it feels like we're not dating. Sometimes it just feels like he's more one of the kids I teach then my boyfriend..."
"Hmm...sorry to hear that. Have you tried telling him?" Casey answered, giving his best attempt at suggesting something. Granted, Serena knew Jared a whole heck of a lot better than he, and so she would know whether that was a wise idea or not, but he supposed it was worth a try.
Serena sighed and sat down on one of her chairs with a heavy sigh. "Of course I have. I've brought it up and he ignores it or doesn't get it or pretends not to get it. Casey i've dropped so many blatent hints that even you would have gotten them. I mean when a girl says right outloud something along the lines of, "Maybe i'd like to spend the rest of my life with you" and when asked if she'd like that responds "Very much so." Its hard to get what is the problem. We've been dating for four years! Four bloody years!"
"I think you and Lucy ought to meet, but oh would I fear for us men," Casey said with a smirk. Lucy and Serena would be an unbeatable duo if they teamed up to help girl who wanted some proposal. The poor bloke would have no choice but to pop the question or vacate the premises.
"Took Sam a little more than four years to propose to her. Now they're married, but all the same. But, I do remember talking to Sam the beginning of 7th year when I was considering asking Evie. He thought I was crazy, that maybe I should wait and see a little more of life, make sure this was what I wanted. Maybe that's what Jared wants...to experience life despite having experienced it for so long...perhaps a dream of his or something he wants to fulfill?"
He paused for a moment, contemplating his next words before speaking them. "Maybe you should pop the question? A little unconventional, but hey, the guy is unconventional himself."
Serena sighed at his explanation. It made sense, but at the same time she wasn't too sure. Yeah Jared was a little unconventional, but she wasn't. She wanted to be proposed to. She had to lead him anything else, why couldn't he just do this one thing for her. It wasn't like the end of the world. They were faithful to eachother and practically had moved in with each other, it was just a formalitiy. "I can't ask Casey. I don't know what he'll say. I' m scared. He knows what my answer will be..."
"Trust me, he's just as scared as you," he answered, letting out a sigh. "It's a lifelong commitment, requires a lot of work to keep going....Arguments, happy moments, sad moments, moments when you hate each others' guts, but you have to work through it, can't give up so easily when you let your emotions get involved. People get hurt, misunderstandings happen, trust is broken, but it's 'for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer' as long as both live."
He let out a sigh, looking at the ground, inadvertently his hand with his ring that he'd kept on ever since then, hoping that somehow it would clue Evie in as to his thoughts, but that Trey guy was always chasing him off. Damn him and his vindictive ways.
"It's a struggle that's so worth it in the end, when you get to make each other happy, share everything, amazing how strong the bond becomes, how much you grow with each other. You are strong together, weak apart. Each others' vices become the others' strength. Then, you add children, start a family, and you really have to learn to work together, compliment each other in what you do." He gave a small, almost nonexistant and wistful smile, looking up from the ground.
Serena sighed and nodded. She knew it was a big commitment, but she felt they had been ready for it for so long. Why couldn't he? Why couldn't he at least tell her why he wouldn't marry her or what he was waiting for? Did he just not want to get married at all?
She sighed and shook her head, listening longingly to Casey's words. That is what she wanted. She wanted to bond to him enternally, she wanted to share her life with him, she wanted to make him strong, he had already made her so much stronger. Why couldn't he see?
"If only he would see it that way. I've been trying to point that out."
Casey nodded, letting out a sigh. "Some guys need a bit of a push in the right direction. Could be he doesn't understand your hints. Maybe you need to bluntly say that one of your ambitions in life is to get married before you're whatever age. That should be enough to make him realize that there are things you expect from life and if he doesn't feel ready to propose, then perhaps he needs to contemplate why. Just don't bring up children. If Evie had mentioned that when I proposed, I think I would've nearly had a heart attack, but then again, we were younger, but all the same..."
Serena nodded and took in his advice. No children. Be blunt...She swallowed and shook her head. She would never be able to do this. Never. She had to do it if she ever wanted to be his wife, but it was just so harsh and she was afraid of why he didn't do it on his own and all that. She sighed and nodded again. "I suppose I have to do that then..."
"Suppose you do," Casey answered simply, moving to sit in a chair, a bit tired of just standing there. "May I?" he inquired before sitting down, looking up at her as he leaned back in it crossing his ankle over his knee.
Serena nodded fervently, a little embaressed that she hadn't invited him to sit down yet. "Yes of course! You should have just sat down sooner. Least you deserve for dealing with my issues when you're the one that came here for a good ear."
Casey offered a small smile as he leaned forward, resting his forearms parallel his legs, hands more or less clasped as he looked down at them for a few moments. "I don't deserve much of anything after the past week."
Serena sighed and shook her head. She had heard about what was going on in the paper and from various rants from Evie's talks with the headmaster and of course from rumors. It did not sound good at all of course, but it sounded like something was wrong with the accusitions. "Perhaps you do. I for one, by evidence given from the paper and various accounts gather that something is missing. Grant you, if I caught Jared I wouldn't want to listen to him either, but you wouldn't do that to Evie and not with a girl that loose..."
"Well, I'd hope you'd at least give him a chance to give his account of things," Casey answered in almost a monotone as he let out a sigh and brought his eyes up to her. "But, the fact remains that I did it, and by the time I realized what had happened, I had no way to prove it except my own word against hers, and of course, she's playing like she's a helpless little squib." He rolled his eyes and let out another sigh. "And now I've got another kid on the way."
It was such a mess, such a mess. He didn't know what to do, which was precisely why he'd come here, see if Serena knew what to do, but he had a feeling even she probably wouldn't know for this one. Wasn't like she could send him to Mungo's to get some sort of test. By this point in time, and as he had said, by the time he'd realized what had happened and gone home, this stuff had left his system.
"Evie won't listen to me, won't even give me a chance. She has him send me away...I haven't seen my son for days now. I've already let her down, but does she have to make me let him down, too? I love them, Serena; I love them. They're my life, and I need them, but what am I supposed to do?" He looked up at her again, eyes looking almost as though they were pleading with her even if he wouldn't allow any other emotion to really show. He couldn't. He deserved the treatment he was getting from Evie, but that admission on his part wasn't enough to make it not hurt.
Serena sighed heavily and shook her head. She was happy she had been sitting down for this one. Sounded like he really needed some help. She had read the newspaper and listened to Evie, but she could tell that Casey was, in a twisted way, right on this one. Sure he shouldn't have been going to the bar with such frequency, but he wasn't the kind to cheat. Not to mention denying having a child and not knowing his wife? No man was that stupid. Especially not Casey.
Serena took a deep breath. The girl just could have been dumb and insistant. Honestly. She couldn't think of anyone who would do this, much less why anyone would do this. "Well Casey. I can understand where Evie is coming from. I mean, logic tends to defy a girl when she catches her husband, or in my case, to scared to become a bloody husband boyfriend. Obviously it doesn't help that the woman was a squib. That marks off any potions or things. Makes it harder to believe you, but it doesn't add up at all."
Serena bit her lip lightly and shook her head. "Of course Evie's pregnancy makes it even worse right? She's going to be moody, but I wonder why she didn't tell me she was pregnant. But I know you love her, any fool can see that half a mile away. I don't know what to tell you Casey. I'm trying, Hermione's trying. I don't know about John, but I'm sure he's on your side." Serena shook her head and looked down at her hands. "Its wrong of her not to let you see Jules though. Everytime I watch him when...well, when Trevor comes around, he asks about you. Next time i'll try to call you over, you can hide if she comes, Jules can keep a secret..."
Casey was going to comment how the woman wasn't a squib and was going to mention that Evie should have given him Veritaserum like he asked her to, but it seemed that neither of those were meant to be pointed out because with the words about Evie's being pregnant coming from Serena's mouth he was left completely and utterly speechless. Evie was pregnant? His child, rather obviously. It explained things to some extent...her moodiness, the extent to which she was hurt, the reason why she wasn't thinking clearly enough to give him the Veritaserum to question him. Maybe he had been wrong to blame Trey so readily, but he'd needed a scapegoat, and Trey was so easily made one so Casey had become blind to what evidence was before him. Maybe that explained why it was that Evie had been so angry when he had wanted to kick Morgana out. Maybe Evie had been thinking he would try to do something like he had to Morgana now if she had told him, or maybe keeping it from him was her way of spiting him.
But could she really think so little of him so quickly? Yeah, the scene in The Three Broomsticks had looked and seemed like he had done something unforgiveable, but it wasn't him. It was him if he had no attachments, but he had had attachments and he would never have made that decision had he remembered them. Evie should have known that regardless. She'd had plenty of time, he thought, to have got past the emotional state enough for some logic to show through, but then maybe he didn't understand the female psyche. He had never claimed to understand it, but he had thought he had some minute understanding of it at least. Sure, they were emotionally ruled beings, but to let emotion rule for such an extended period of time? No way did that make any sense to do. By now she should have at least given him a chance, even if she was cold towards him. She should have given him the Veritaserum.
"She...she's pregnant, Serena?" he asked uncertainly. Serena had been right three years ago after all, had known before Poppy had even told Evie or before Evie herself even knew. She seemed to know these sort of things. So, for now the whole issue was being set aside for a while, even her offer to let him see Julian. He'd bring those up again after he knew. "How long? How far along is she?" He was feeling a little angry that Evie would hide such a thing from him, even after what he had done. He had a right to know about the fact they were having another child. He had a right to see this child, just like he had a right to see Julian. They were his, and he wasn't going to let her force him out of their lives. She had no right, no right at all.
Serena's eyes widened in horror when Casey spoke. She didn't know anything about Evie being pregnant he was the one that brought it up wasn't he. He said that he was going to have another child right. He couldn't do that with that girl from the bar on the first try right. That was so unlikely after all. The girl would have done something to prevent it right? Serena shook her head. "I don't know a thing. I thought you said she was pregnant... It is Evie you were talking about right? Please say you were talking about Evie."
Serena's look of horror was enough to make Casey's heart stop in his throat. He swallowed as she asked her question and shook his head, not daring to speak for a few moments. "I wish it was," he replied remorsefully, looking away from Serena and to the ground. He didn't want to see her reaction. That horrorstruck look was enough. Would she think more poorly of him now that she knew this other woman was pregnant with his child? Even if she believed his innocence, believed his story, there were some things that seemed to make people's opinions and attitudes towards a given situation change. "The girl, she came the other day to my office saying she was pregnant. I thought she was conning me at first, but now I'm not so sure. I almost felt guilty for worrying about the baby when she fell down the stairs, especially since Evie was there trying to help her."
He let out a sigh, chewing his lip slightly and shaking his head. "I never wanted this to happen. I just needed a way to relax, needed a drink or two, calm my nerves. But it seems that I got a little more than I bargained for--more than a little more, more like a lot more." He chewed his lip back again for a few moments before raising his head back to normal and looking up at her with his eyes. "What am I supposed to do, Serena? I really screwed up this time, and it's costing me the one person who ever really meant anything to me."