A/N: I (obviously) do not own Life With Derek. If I did, I doubt I would be writing fanfiction. I would probably be contributing to writing the episodes. I won't spend my days mourning that I don't own it, though I'm beginning to go mad from the tension between Derek and Casey.
I'm Just Such a Social Reject
"Em, I just don't get it!" Casey's voice was rising to a shriek. "Am I just some kind of social pariah?"
Emily was not well-versed in the art of comfort. "Well, Casey…"
"What?" Her voice was high and frantic. "What?"
"I mean…" Emily didn't look like she quite knew how to phrase it. "You don't really make an effort, do you?" She cleared her throat, well aware of Casey's volatile tendencies. "There was the blind date thing that Kendra set up. That made you look kind of desperate, you know? And you're a bit of grade grubber. And you're still Klutzilla. Is it really that…" She hesitated. "Surprising?"
Casey collapsed into a chair. "You're right!" She sniffled. "I'm terrible. I'm such a social reject."
Emily shifted. "Casey, it's not that bad."
"Of course it is!" And now she was half-screaming. If she hadn't already been in her room, it was probable she would be storming off to it. "Em, since Sam and I broke up, the only dates I've been on were with Scott."
"And the—"
"The blind dates Kendra set up don't count!" she said in a rush. "If they did, I would be even worse off. Why doesn't anyone like me?" Her head was in her hands.
"Maybe if you went to more parties?"
"I'm not going to something Derek thinks is cool."
"Well, Casey, if you want to be cool, you can't ignore Derek." Emily, in Casey's opinion, was so enamored with Derek because she didn't have to live with him. Once you lived with Derek, you knew he was a disgusting, obnoxious snob.
It wasn't that she hated him. It wasn't even that he was the most terrible brother she could have had, because he wasn't—though he had been. Briefly.
But he was still a slob, he was still obnoxious, and he still drove her insane.
"I don't want to be cool. I just don't want to be a complete outcast." She was pacing again. "Is that too much to ask?"
Emily looked at the clock. Casey had the distinct feeling she was trying to escape. "I have to get home."
Casey wrinkled her nose. "Sorry."
Emily waved a hand at her. "I'm not used to it by now?" She left the room, calling "Bye, Case!" as she bounced down the stairs.
Casey looked toward the clock. It read 6:23, which meant that dinner would be soon. She started to pull books out of her backpack, intending to get started studying for the history text next week.
"Thank god she's gone," drawled a voice from her doorway.
"Go away, Derek," she said, without looking at him.
"I don't want to." She had still not quite learned how to handle this sort of situation. If she ignored him, he would become more of a pest to get a rise out of her. If she acknowledged him, he would just bait her into a fight. If she attacked him, he played the martyr, and then attacked her back. With better ammunition.
"You must be lonely, if you're seeking out my company." She tried to concentrate on her notes.
"Not lonely. Bored." His voice was flat, and she knew it was inviting some kind of challenge.
She did her best to ignore it. "Don't have a date with Kendra tonight? Oh, wait!" She gave a fake little gasp. "I forgot! You broke up!"
He didn't reply for a moment, and she looked up. He was staring at her. "That's the best you could come up with?" he demanded. His face looked horrified. "That I got bored of a girl?" He shook his head. "You're losing it, Case." He turned and walked away, and she could hear his door close.
She smirked. Score one for Casey. She could never get rid of Derek that easily. And she was the one losing it?