I do not own Life With Derek, nor the characters contained within, with the exception of the Original Character and company that stems from him. This is an alternative look at the canon after the episode "Grade Point: Average." Hope you enjoy the read!
CHAPTER 1:
Ricky West gazed at his alarm clock sleepily. The red digits blinked over to read 1:32. Ricky yawned loudly, rubbing his eyes. He had been at it now for more than three and a half hours. Ricky turned his clock back around and brought his pen back over to the paper. With a sigh, he started writing again. He promised himself that he would only be a few more minutes. He did have school tomorrow, after all. Ricky gave another quick glance over the paper. He started to read it from the beginning.
Dear Casey:
That's about as far as Ricky got before he was flooded with a sea of images from earlier that day...
"Derek Venturi and Casey McDonald," said Mr. Patterson.
Derek Venturi snapped back into existence when the young English teacher called out his name. Casey McDonald, already at full attention was up to front of the class room within seconds of her name being called. She rolled her eyes at her half-asleep stepbrother. Trying to keep herself composed, she couldn't quite contain a little feeling of anger rising up in her.
Here she was dressed up like Mary Shelley for Derek's benefit, and what does he do? He falls asleep in the class that he will most likely fail without her help! Derek got up from his chair sleepily, holding his report in his hand, as he walked towards the front of the class.
Derek held his hands up in an apologetic manner. Casey gave him a small disapproving nod, but she couldn't help but smile a little. He was dressed up like Percy Shelley. The old-fashioned clothing made him look decent...if not a little cute. Wait a minute! Cute! This was her stepbrother she was talking about! Derek Venturi! She shook the thought from her head as Derek fluffed his collar. The Victorian-era clothing was her last minute idea. She knew it would win over Mr. Patterson and help get Derek his much needed 90.
Derek cleared his throat and began the presentation. Casey listened to him intently.
"Percy Shelley was born in..." began Derek.
Casey looked on enthusiastically as Derek read his report, that he actually wrote! Casey was amazed when she had read the piece of writing that had come from Derek. Casey couldn't help but smile a little again. Maybe Derek was turning over a new leaf. She never saw him more determined about anything when he was writing his report last night. It was funny to see that maybe they weren't too different after all. He was worried about a grade. Something made Derek Venturi...human.
Casey smiled every now and then at the class as Derek was reading his report. She saw that many of them were actually transfixed upon Derek, some even with their jaws dropped. She didn't know if that was just Derek's oozing charisma, or they actually thought it was good. Probably a little of both. Even Mr. Patterson was smiling as Derek finished off his section of the report. For once, all eyes were on Derek Venturi for a different reason...in attention to his hard work. All eyes, that is, except for one.
Ricky West glanced down at his own paper as Casey was looking around the room, trying not to make eye contact with her. All eyes had indeed been on Derek Venturi...but when hadn't they been? Ricky couldn't believe that a girl like Casey McDonald would choose Derek Venturi as a partner. With the first few sentences of Derek's report, Ricky had known that Casey must have written it. Casey deserved better...she deserved...
"Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, author of the famous 'Frankenstein'," started Casey. Her sweet voice broke Ricky out of his train of thought as he settled his eyes back upon Casey.
It was hard to believe that she'd only been here a few months. It seemed like forever to Ricky. Maybe it was because she just fit into the school so well. She was by no means the popular girl. Her "Klutzilla" episode sort of guaranteed her opposite. But then again...what was popularity, anyway? Casey didn't need to be popular. She was cute. Ricky loved the way she'd subtly throw a smile into a conversation. Not that Ricky had had many with her, but her quirks stayed with him as he continued to listen to her heavenly voice.
As Casey finished off her report, the class began applauding loudly. Derek took a mock bow, and Casey smiled. Even Mr. Patterson was joining in the applause. The applause was no doubt directed at Derek, but Ricky's claps were directed towards the better half of the team.
Derek and Casey sat back down in their seats. Derek gave a smile towards Casey as Mr. Patterson walked back to the class. Casey gave a smile back and a little thumbs up towards her stepbrother...her partner. Derek gave her a high-five from his seat. Ricky couldn't help to feel a little angry.
Mr. Patterson looked over his clipboard and called the next name on the list.
"Ricky," Mr. Patterson called out. "Ricky West."
Ricky snapped away from glaring at Derek angrily, clutching his paper. In a quick movement Ricky got up, but was unaware of his untied shoelaces and found himself tripping quickly towards the ground, desk coming down also. Ricky let out a shriek as he hit the floor. The class began laughing loudly, Derek Venturi being the instigator. He even thought he heard Mr. Patterson laugh a little. Mr. Patterson walked over to Ricky. Standing over him, he helped him up.
"Are you okay, Ricky?" asked Mr. Patterson. "Ricky?"
Mr. Patterson continued to call Ricky's name.
Ricky...Ricky...
"RICKY!"
Ricky was brought back face to face with his alarm clock. It now read 2:30. A voice from downstairs yelled up loudly to him.
"RICKY!" yelled his mother. "Are you still up? Get to bed! It's a school night!"
"Sorry, mom," Ricky called back down.
Ricky glanced over the letter once again, dragging the pen across it a few more lines before turning off his lamp. As Ricky made his way towards his bed, he wondered if this was a good idea. As he flopped onto his bed, burying his face into the pillow. It had to be, he decided.
It was time for her to know...
END OF CHAPTER 1
