Epilogue

Let me just say one thing. My cousin Emily's best friend is a little frantic. She's cool and all but who can live with so much order and, and, oh what's that word I'm looking for...tidiness, that's the word. I like her and all. Don't get me wrong. Casey McDonald is a great person but she's too close to perfect. I think she needs to live life. And I think that I'm the one to help her and if Derek decides to help wouldn't be that bad. Besides it's not like he's Casey's property, he's just her stepbrother. So why would she have any interest in who's he's with what so ever.

Chapter 1-The meeting.

Emily is a great cousin and I love to visit her. I really do, but everytime I go to see her all she can talk about is Derek Venturi this, Derek Venturi that. All I hear is Derek,Derek,Derek!! I needed a subject change and quick because when Emily gets started talking about something she doesn't change the topic unless someone does it for her.

"Hey Em?" I asked her. Emily turned to look at me. She just stared at me like something was wrong. "I was just wondering. How's your best friend? Casey, right?" 'God I hope this is a good subject change' I thought.

"She's good. Did you know that she's Derek's stepsister?" Emily said. 'Oh no, not Derek.' I thought as I dreaded the fact that Emily might start up again.

"Really? Well tell me about her?" I asked. Hoping so, so much that she would devert her attention to Casey and away from Derek.

"Well, She's really smart, she's amazing in school, a great student, really nice, easy to get along with, high strung at times,"Emily continued on as I just smiled at her. Hopefully me and Casey will get along. After all I have to stay at their house for a while. Kind of the rest of the school year. My parents were involved in a really horrible car accident and in their will they stated that if anything ever happens to them to send me to my cousin Emily's house for the time being. But unfortunetly Emily's house doesn't have enough room for me. That's where Casey's family comes in. Casey's mom and stepdad offered for me to stay with them until the end of the school year or until my parents get better. Whichever one happens. As it turns out I'm with them for the end of the school year. That's why Emily is telling me all about Derek. Casey's stepbrother who appearently is the school's hottie. But he just sounds boring to me.

"Okay. We're here!" My aunt said as she pulled up infront of Casey and Derek's house. Emily got out of the car and I followed. My aunt opened the trunk to get my luggage. My seven big bags of luggage. I grabbed a few bags and so did Emily as we made our way up to the door of the Venturi-McDonald household. 'I hope they like me. And if not, oh well.' I thought to myself as my aunt rung the doorbell.

"Couldn't we have just walked over instead?" I asked

"Honey, you're bags weighs a ton! I don't think hauling them over would have done any good." My aunt said to me as she put my bags down. 'Maybe I shouldn't have packed so heavily.' I thought as I listened to my aunt sigh. People are never quite sure how me and Emily are related mainly because we don't look anything alike. Mainly because I'm adopted. I'm mixed actually. Emily's dad's brother and his wife adopted me after I was given up for adoption. My real parents however gave me quite a mix. My dad was half black and half native american and my mom was half japanese, a quarter norweighan, and a quarter italian. Thus I came to be after they did you know...I'm not going to say it because every child in the world never wants to know or admit that their parents infact have sex. It's just gross to even think about it. But anyway..

"Maybe their not home." I said. No one had answered the door after my aunt had rung it so she rang it again. Only this time I heard a girl scream one thing.Derek.

"Sounds like Derek did something to Casey." Emily said looking at her mom then at me. All of a sudden the door swung open and a guy my age was standing there smiling. 'Does he not know how to talk?' I thought to myself. Why is that all guys seem to not know how to talk after they answer the door. And if they do it's always.

"Yeah?" Derek said. That seems to be the only word guys know how to use when they open the door. That or 'What do you want?' is another popular choice.

"Derek. Can you help us with these bags?" My aunt said as she picked up the bags that she had placed down and walked inside pushing Derek aside. Emily followed and I followed Emily. Derek closed the door and walked over to where we had placed my bags. As soon as I looked up from putting my bags down a man and a woman entered the room.

"Nora, George! Hi." My aunt said as she hugged them. 'That must be Casey's mom and Derek's dad.' I thought as I looked at them.They smiled at my aunt and then looked at me. I noticed that I was just staring at them with a very blank expression."This is my niece Leaola. Lea this is Nora and George." I smiled quickly in hopes that they didn't notice that I stared off into space. They came over and hugged me.

"Leaola. It's a pleasure to have you stay with us. We are so excited that you're here." Nora said with a big smile on her face.

"Very excited. You'll be staying with Casey in her room. Are you okay with that?" George said.

"Yeah. I'm fine with that. I was dreading that fact that I might have to room with Derek. That would have been torture." I replied with a smile.

"And why would that have been torture?" Derek asked walking forward and standing infront of me staring me down in the eyes. 'I wonder if he really thinks that he can scare me off by staring me down.' I thought to myself as I smirked and scoffed a bit.

"Not torture for me. Torture for you." I said. Before Derek could reply Casey came down the stairs and came over to me.

"Hi! I'm Casey. You must be.."

"Leaola."

"Leaola. That's pretty. Welcome." Casey said as she smiled at me. 'Seems nice enough.' I thought.

"Well lets get your stuff upstairs and get you settled." Nora said as everyone grabbed a bag and went upstairs. I followed them but stopped half-way and turned towards the bottom of the stairs and looked at Derek.

"You know, Derek. You might want to rethink anything that you might want to pull on Casey or me while I'm here. You never know what kind of payback you'll get." I said with a smirk. Derek looked at me with an intrigued look.

"Is that a threat?" Derek asked.

"No. It's both a notification and a promise. I'll see you at dinner." I said as I turned and continued up the stairs to Casey's room. As I entered I noticed how neat and organized Casey's room was. As I walked towards the middle of the room where everyone was standing I just looked around the room.

"So.. What do you think?" Casey asked with a smile. I noticed a cot near the window.

"It's nice. Very neat and organized." I said as I turned to face Casey, George, Nora, Emily, and my aunt.

"I know. Now I know that there's not that much room in here. But Mom and George got an extra dresser for your clothes and I made extra room in my closet and anything that we can't fit in here we'll just put under my bed." Casey said as she looked around the room while she explained this all to me. I nodded as I took it all in. 'This is going to be fun.' As I thought

"Alright. Well, Leaoloa. We'll let you get settled in. Call if you need anything okay?" As my aunt came over and gave me a hug.

"I will. I promise." I said as I smiled at her.

"And I'll see you in school in two days okay Lea?" Emily said as she came over and hugged me. 'I love her. She talks a lot on thing but I love her. She's the best' I thought as I smiled at her. My aunt said bye to both Nora and George as her and Emily left. Nora closed the door. I just sighed and sat down on my cot. Casey sat down across from me on her bed.

"So Emily told me what happened. And I just want to say how incredibly sorry I am. If there's anything I can do please let me know."

"Well, there is one thing." I said

"Name it." Casey said as she leaned forward.

"Your stepbrother, Derek. How many mean things has he done to you?" I asked.

"Too many to name. Why?" She asked looking at me with a confused look.

"I just thought that since your opening your room and home to me, that I might, you know, give Derek a taste of his own medicine." I said. Casey perked up. She got up and came and sat down next to me and looked at me.

"By 'own medicine' you mean.."

"Getting him back. Payback basically." I said.

"Leaola I-"

"You can call me Lea" I said as I interrupted her.

"Okay, Lea. I don't think you can handle Derek. He is the king of pranking. No one can get him." She said trying to get me to reconsider my offer. But Casey didn't know my history at all. And all the pranks that Emily has told me about that Derek has pulled on Casey I know that he will be no problem.

"Trust me Casey. I can take care of him. Emily told me about all the pranks he has pulled on you. Let's just say that Derek is an amature compared to me and by the time that I'm done with him he wont be pulling anymore pranks." I said as I smiled at Casey. Derek wont know what hit him when I'm through with him.

Okay. This is my first ever! Life with Derek fic. It's a Dasey I promise but I need to add something into the mix. I can't let it be easy for Derek and Casey to get together. That would be boring for me to write. I like obstacles and challenges in my stories. So I hope you enjoy it! Review if you!!