THE PROJECT

Disclaimer: I don't own LWD but this whole story is purely mine.

Chapter 1: The Partner

At this moment Casey McDonald was not in much of a good mood. She was actually looking forward for the science experiment her teacher introduced a week ago; the Big Splash. She thought Emily would be her partner, yet at the D-day, swoosh, partner's gone. It turned out that Emily had chosen Sheldon over her. She remembered the conversation she had with her best friend not even 5 minutes ago:

"I'm really sorry Casey… Just for this once can I be Sheldon's partner?" Her best friend pleaded, "Pretty please? This is the only class that Sheldon and I are in together…" Casey wanted to say no but seeing Emily's look she sighed and nodded. "Fine. But you owe me Em." Looking at this reaction, Emily jumped at her best friend, hugging her. "Thanks Casey! This means a lot!"

At the mean time, however, she began to regret her decision. "Seriously..." Casey complained rather to herself, "Who am I supposed to partner up with now?" She skimmed the class. Just then she heard her stepbrother called her. "Hey Space-Case," he casually greeted, "Would you mind to kindly be my lab partner? Sam and Ralph ditched me."

"You must be kidding me…" Casey said under her breath. It was not that Derek was bad at science or anything… In fact, he was actually pretty good in science experiments when he put the effort. Playing in her mind however, is the torture and the pranks he would put on her later. She skimmed the class once again. And another time, just to make sure that there's no better option. The thoughts ran quickly in her brain: Max took Chem instead of Physics. Other capable candidates have formed their own pairs. Not having a partner is worse. And the last sentence she repeated over and over.

"Fine. But you have to follow some conditions;" Casey said finally, "one, we must equally contribute to the experiment. Two, you should not put pranks me, especially during the experiments. Three, we should plan together and create deadlines, four…." Casey kept on rambling until the teacher warned them of speaking too loud. Derek laughed and sat beside his stepsister. "See that Case?" Derek said slowly, pointing his finger at their friend, big mouth. He was known to be able to eat anything, and that when he speak he never really stops. At fourth grade everyone started to call him "big mouth" and at this point, no one even remember his full name anymore. "That's how much your mouth will expand next year if you don't stop yapping."

"De-rek!"

"Miss Mcdonald! As much as you are excited to have Mr. Venturi as your lab partner, you should keep voice down." Casey blushed at her teacher statement; embarrassed to saw that her friends' eyes were fixed on her.

'This experiment', Casey thought to herself sarcastically while covering her face with both of her hand in frustration, 'is going to be a blast.'

"I can't believe this Em… I have to endure a whole week of science class with Derek!" Casey said to her best friend while walking to their seats in the cafeteria. Putting down her tray, Emily replied "You know, some girls would die to change places with you." Casey put an obnoxious look on her face.

"I just didn't know what the girls see in him, ya know…" Casey said while eating her sandwich.

"Well. He's, you know, sort of cool." Emily told her as they watch Derek and his mates walk into the canteen. Casey somehow saw everything in slow motion. The two girls in the left were giggling while Derek greeted them, his groupies were excited as ever to see their idol and others just stared at him with admiration. "Oh I can't believe this." Casey rolled her eyes. She turned to her best friend, only seeing that Emily, who had a crush on him until not long ago, was still drowned in her admiration toward her step bother.

"Looks like I'm alone now…" the brunette said under her breath, sighing. Just then her boyfriend, Max put a tray beside her.

"Hey Case!" Max was wearing his usual football jersey. They were already going out for a month and even though there were ups and downs she enjoyed it. She started to explain what happened to her boyfriend and complain about the events that happened. Max listened to her, paying full attention to her face while eating his food when Derek came and mockingly told him, "I pity you Maxine… You have to endure this bird chipping for the rest of your life…" Sam, Ralph and Emily can't help but laughed at his statement. The trio walked away when they heard "De-rek!"

"I honestly can't believe him!" Casey said in an angry tone "I apologize for my stepbrother rudeness Max."

"Honestly Case, it's okay." Max replied. "I'm kind of jealous of your relationship with Derek you know… You seem to get along very well with each other" Casey eye widened "That's what you call GETTING ALONG? He was getting on my nerve every time we met! He is an obnoxious, sarcastic, ugly jerk!" Casey replied with such force that she hyperventilated.

"Calm down Case..." Max chuckled. "I wish I had a sister as cute as you to argue with. It looks fun" Casey blushed at his 'cute' statement.

Emily just watched as the lovey-dovey couple kissed briefly and blushed. "Oh get a room you guys…"

-ooooooooooooo-

From across the room Derek saw his stepsister kissing her boyfriend; he was somehow pissed at the scene. He didn't know why and he didn't know when this started to happen but his blood boiled every time he saw Casey kissing Max. He decided to keep them to himself since it was something he himself can't quite put his finger on.

A/N: I just want you to know that I re-posted this chapter from my old account (also did some editing here and there). Wanted to continue it since... forever... but sadly I forgot which email I used for the account so now I ended up creating a whole new account, just to post the following chapters. Just so you know, this is DASEY. Thanks for reading. Do review :).

Next Chapter: The Design