Disclaimer: I do not own Life With Derek, it's characters or any quotes I may use from it.

A/N: Hello all, this is my first Life With Derek fanfic, so please bare with me. I've written a few other fanfics, but they're all anime. To which I'm happy to say I can finally get working on since I found a CD with a back up off all my work, minus two stories, which of course of the two main stories I'm working on; but the good news is I is pretty much back in business. :D

Anyways, back to this fic. I don't have TV so I'm not really up to date with what's going on in LWD so I'm just going to try and wing it. Fair warning to those who read my fics; I try to keep characters as "in-character" as I can. But no promises. So this is set when Casey is 17 and Derek is 18. I'm not sure what ages Lizzie, Edwin and Marti are…so if someone wouldn't mind giving me an idea, I would really appreciate it.  Any names that you don't recognize are names I made up because I don't know the real ones. If you know them, please tell me and I will change it.

Here's how it goes

"Talking"

"Thinking"

And you know how in the show where it's like Casey talking to the camera? Well whatever looks like "This" is that. Make since? Lol

One last note before I stop my babbling and let you read the story. You'll prolly find some similarities from this story and A Walk To Remember. But I promise you it was not what I meant to do. I was after I wrote out the idea for this and started writing the story that I realized it. So sorry!

Hope you enjoy.

January 30th, 1:23 p.m.

"And for the lead roles of our spring play "Romeo and Juliet"…….Casey McDonald will be our Juliet and-"

There comes a time in every girl's life that she wants to be Juliet. I mean, come on. Forbidden love, a man who would defy everything he is to be with you. Then kill himself thinking you had died. Now that is romantic. And of course I'm not complaining; I wanted this part, really, really bad. But……the next words out of my teacher's mouth had to ruin it all.

"And Romeo will be played by Derek Venturi."

"WHAT!"

Have you ever had one of those moment where all you want is to shake your fist at the sky and yell "Why me?!"

This is defiantly one of those moments.

I mean what are the odds that this would happen? If I didn't know better I'd think Derek planned it just so he could ruin the rest of my school year. But I know for a fact that is not the case. And I'm sure your wondering how we ended up in a play together, or why Derek's even in a play.

It all started two weeks ago; Derek and I are in our last year of high school; but nothing has changed since the day my mom married his dad. And after nearly three years, I have come to the conclusion that I somehow wronged someone in another life and this is Fate's way of exacting revenge. The pestilence known as Derek.

Like I said, this all started two weeks ago; it was Derek's 18th birthday and he was out late…..really, really late…..

January 16th, 3:08 a.m.

Casey jerked awake when she heard loud knocking on the front door. Frowning slightly, she slipped out of her bed and went down the stairs.

She reached the door just as George and Nora come through the kitchen.

"Casey" George yawned, "What's going on?"

"I don't know. I just heard someone knock."

Nora sighed and pulled her robe tighter, "Well, see who it is."

Casey turned the handle and pulled the door open just enough to see outside. Her eyebrows shot up, "Can I help you?"

An officer tipped his hate, "Are your parents home miss?"

George and Nora appeared behind Casey, "Is there a problem officer?"

"Are you George Venturi?

"Yes."

"I'm sorry to be disturbing you at this hour sir; but I believe we have someone that belongs to you."

Another officer stepped up into the porch light, dragging a young man up with him.

George swore under his breath and Nora's hand flew to her mouth.

It was Derek.

"We found him and a few other boys trespassing on school property. Drinking."

George's jaw tightened and the first officer continued, "This school won't be pressing charges, but has decided to deal with the kids themselves. There's a meeting tomorrow."

Casey took a step back as Derek slowly walked into the house and headed straight for his room.

George finally managed a "Thank you" and a "goodnight" to the officers before closing the door.

Casey actually backed away from him; she'd never seen him so angry.

"Stop right there mister" George growled towards Derek, who was just reaching the stop of the stairs.

Nora whispered in his ear and George nodded curtly. Nora then took Casey's hand and dragged her into the kitchen; explaining it was something George needed to address on his own.

And of course the whole family found out later what happened.

Derek and a few of the hockey players went to the school and trashed some of the rooms, while drinking. Luckily it was a Friday, and so there was time to get everything cleaned up. Which the boys had to do. But that wasn't the end of it for Derek; George grounded him for three months at least. No TV, much to my enjoyment. No computer; George actually took the computer out of Derek's room and put it in the basement, threatening to sell it if Derek so much as thought about it. No dating. No hockey. The coach wasn't very happy, but agreed. Derek, of course, was furious. And to top it all off Derek had to take part in the up-coming school play.

"WHAT?" Casey screeched. "Why are you punishing me too?"

Nora smiled tightly at her oldest daughter "Now Casey, I know you're upset about this, but Derek needs to get his head on straight, help out."

Casey crossed her arms and glared at Derek "This is all your fault!" she hissed.

Derek rolled his eyes "Oh of course. Blame me, because I just woke up this morning and thought "Hmm, how else can I ruin Casey life?" he snapped his fingers "I know! I'll volunteer myself for the STUPID SCHOOL PLAY!!!"

"And how this would be different from any other morning?" Casey sniped.

"Alright, that's enough" George cut in before the Derek could open his mouth.

"And the play isn't stupid!"

"Casey! Stop. Look, I'm sorry, but this is just how it's going to be."

Casey looked back and forth between the two parents before groaning and stomping off to her room.

Derek smirked and George pointed a finger in his direction, "Don't get any ideas mister. You put ONE toe out of line and you'll wish you had the lead part in that play."

January 19th, 6:24 a.m.

Monday morning came and the two eldest children entered the school with frowns on their faces.

"This really stinks" Casey muttered.

Derek just shrugged, "Whatever" and left to find his hockey buddies.

Casey sighed deeply and dragged her feet as she made her way to her locker. Her best friend Emily was standing there pulling books out her backpack.

Casey stopped and sighed.

And sighed again.

Leaned towards Emily and sighed loudly once again.

Emily looked up, "Oh Casey! I didn't see you. What's wrong?"

"Everything!" Casey burst out and several students gave her strange looks as they walked past. Emily raised an eyebrow, "Okay" she said slowly.

Casey opened her mouth but was downed out by the school bell ringing loudly above them. Emily smiled apologetically and swung her backpack over her shoulder, "Tell me at lunch, k?"

Casey made a face and nodded, "Yeah okay."

She opened her locker, pulled out her books then hurried off to her own class. The whole school year they didn't have one class together. But of course Derek was in three of Casey's. Sighing once again for good measure Casey rounded the corner and ran straight into Max. Books tumbled to the ground and Casey would have too if Max's hand hadn't flashed out and caught her by her elbow.

"Are you okay?"

Casey looked up into his eyes and resisted the urge to sigh again. They had broken up 4 months earlier. A mutual agreement. Both decided they wanted something more, from someone else. Max still talked to her in passing, but it was still awkward sometimes.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

Casey took a step back, out of his grasp then knelt down to pick up her books. Max also bent down, "What's on your mind Casey?"

Casey's head whipped up, nearly head butting Max, "What?"

"You look distracted."

"Oh, just Derek again."

Max laughed as they stood up, "When is it not?"

Casey frowned and her eyes flashed, "What do you mean by that?"

Max half shrugged, "Just that-"

"Miss McDonald! Mr. Bruce!"

Max and Casey both jumped at the sound of the principles voice, "Class is in there, if you don't mind" he pointed to a nearby classroom.

"Uhh, yeah right" Max flashed Casey a quick smile and hurried off.

Casey stuttered, "W-We-Well you see sir, we ran into each other a-and I-"

"I'm really don't want to hear it Miss McDonald. Class. Now."

Casey bit her lip, "Right."

January 30th, 1:00 p.m.

"Alright everyone please take your seats!"

Casey looked up from her book to see the drama teacher, Mrs. Wanda, waving her arms around trying to get everyone's attention. After about five minutes everyone was settled and pretty much quiet.

"Thank you all for coming here on this Saturday afternoon. I'm sure you're all excited to see what parts you will be playing."

One of the boys in the back let out a loud whoop.

Mrs. Wanda sent him a glare before continuing, "Now, as I say your name and your part I want you to stand up, take a bow, then be seated again. Understood?"

A few murmurs of "Yes ma'm" rolled through the group and Mrs. Wanda cleared her throat, "I will begin with the stage crew"

And now we're back to the beginning of this story. I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting for my name to be called. Of course it didn't even register that Derek's name hadn't been called yet either.

"And for the lead roles of our spring play "Romeo and Juliet"…….Casey McDonald will be our Juliet"

Casey jumped to her feet a huge smile of her face.

"And Romeo will be played by Derek Venturi."

Casey's book dropped to the floor. "WHAT!"

A/N: I know I snagged that sighing thing from one of the episodes, but it was so stupidly funny I couldn't help myself. :D Hope you like it so far and please review