A/N: This is my first story. I know Life With Derek is a little out-dated, but in my eyes Dasey will live on forever.
Please Review!
The next chapters will be much much longer! I was just trying to get a feel for where I wanted to go with this story. I didn't know how I was going to portray the characters. Hopefully, everyone seems in character besides maybe George, but in my mind, Derek and Casey have pushed him almost over the edge.
"Der-ek!" Casey shouted, her strident voice filling the air. She heard the chuckle of her step-brother coming from the other room. She charged in and hurled her frozen bra at him. "What is this?! What is wrong with you?! You act like you're five years old."
"Nice to see you, Case." He winked, before dissolving into a fit of laughter. He flung the bra back, hitting her square in the chest
"I swear to God, Derek!" Casey hissed, before going on another rant.
Derek could hardly control his laughter. The look of disgust and irritation on his step-sister's face was priceless. Her face was turning bright red as she continued to screech words he was no longer paying attention to. The pitch of her voice continued to get louder, and Derek had started to wonder if dogs around the neighborhood could hear her. He stared at her with an amused smirk settled on his face. Casey had enough. She growled an unnatural sound, stormed out of his room and down the stairs.
"Mom! George!" She screamed as Derek ran after her, begging for her to keep quiet. "MOM! GEORGE!" She squealed louder.
"Casey! Stop!" Derek threatened, grabbing her as she hit the last step.
"Der-ek! Get off!" Casey squealed, breaking out of his grasp.
"Cas-ey!" He mimicked, rushing after her.
Nora and George came rushing into the scene both worried that the house was on fire. They saw Casey and Derek standing at the bottom of the stairs. Casey held a frozen bra in her hands, and Derek wore a look of horror. Nora put her hand over her face, and George sighed looking at the floor. Derek and Casey continued to argue back and forth. The rest of the Venturi-McDonald clan had joined the scene. Edwin and Lizzie watched wide-eyed as their siblings bickered. Marti just sat on the couch, playing with her dolls.
"Enough!" George finally bellowed, stunning the eldest to silence. George hardly ever yelled. He was a quiet spoken man who would rather talk about problems than scream. "I have had enough of this! All you ever do is bicker and fight and pull childish pranks on each other."
Casey looked uneasily at the floor. Derek put his hand on the back of his neck and looked up at the ceiling. They tried not to meet each other's eyes. Casey shot a quick glare his way, and Nora sighed. The rest of their siblings had dispersed throughout the house, not wanting to be around whenever their parents went crazy. Derek looked from Nora to his dad. George was seething. Nora had a stern yet relaxed look on her face. He didn't know which one scared him more. Casey tried not to make eye contact with her mom. She hated seeing the disappointment.
"Both of you, to your rooms while George and I decide your punishment," Nora said evenly from behind George.
Derek and Casey slumped up the stairs one at a time. When they got to the top, Casey gave Derek a dirty look, and he used this as an opportunity to tell her she was number one. She seemed taken back by this, but she slammed the door to her room before he could see her reaction. She collapsed on her bed and looked up at the ceiling. She heard Derek's music come on, and she groaned. She pulled out her journal and began scribbling away. Ever since the party in Toronto, Derek had resorted back to his pranking asshat of a step-brother. He'd went pace to calling her things like Klutzilla and Space-Case. Nicknames she'd thought were long gone. She could feel tears threatening to fall. She tried not to scream. She wanted to storm into Derek's room and figure out the hell was happening with him, but that wouldn't help matters. He seemed irritated and annoyed with her all the time. Casey couldn't figure it out. He'd been protective and caring, but maybe he'd just had too much to drink that night.
Derek laid on his bed, tapping his fingers on his leg in rhythm with his music. He had a grin on his face. Casey had reacted in the perfect way. He was pleased with his pranks. If only she hadn't run to his dad and Nora. He didn't honestly know why he'd been so mean to Casey lately. He was blaming it on the stress of school, but he knew that wasn't the real reason. Something had changed between them that night in Toronto, and he was just trying to get some order back into his life. He didn't want everything to change. He liked the relationship he'd had with Casey before, but now, he was feeling things that he didn't know how to explain. He really cared about her. He wanted to be there for her. He wanted to take care of her, but she couldn't see that. He sighed, thinking of the punishment that was sure to ensue. He could only imagine what his dad might take away next. Derek had already been grounded from going to Sam's party this weekend. His computer had been taken away. His stereo was sure to be the next to go. He almost felt bad that he was being so cruel to Casey. He knew she thought he was changing at the party in Toronto, but he knew he couldn't let her think that. So, he had pulled out the old Derek, and he was extremely satisfied with himself. He glanced at the clock. Nora and his father would be upstairs within minutes to deliver the punishment. He better enjoy the stereo while it lasted. He turned the volume dial and stopped thinking.
Casey was starting to get anxious. It had been almost an hour since George and her mom sent them upstairs. This couldn't be good. She hardly ever got in trouble. She didn't think she should've been in trouble for what had happened. She wasn't the childish one. She had to admit though, the prank was kind of funny, but she'd never let Derek know she felt that way. She knew running to George and her mom would only cause more problems, but she had been so angry. She didn't understand Derek's problem. They were getting along. Casey was actually starting to care for Derek. She shook the thought from her head. That was crazy. She couldn't feel anything for Derek or about Derek. He was always going to get under her skin. That was what he did. Derek's music had gotten progressively louder. It was hammering inside her head, but the words caught her attention. The smooth voice made her eyes perk up. It was her favorite song. 'Why would Derek listen to my favorite song?' She wondered, wrinkling her eyebrows together.
"When salted tears won't dry, I'll wipe my shirtsleeves under your eyes. These hearts will be flooded tonight. I'll wipe my shirtsleeves under your eyes, your eyes," Derek found himself singing along. He'd reached his 'CASEY MIXXXX' as it was labeled on his iPod. He wasn't ever sure why he had one just for her. Things that had to do with Casey made him feel weird as of late. When he thought of her, his head went crazy. He didn't know what to feel.
There was a roar from downstairs, summoning them both to the living room. They both took a deep breath behind closed doors. Casey tip-toed town the stairs, and Derek trailed behind her defeated.
"Sit," Nora instructed. She and George were standing on the other side of the coffee table. George's hands were on his hips. Nora was looking sternly at Casey. Casey looked away from her mother's eyes. She felt ashamed. She glanced at Derek. He wore his normal unemotional face.
"We've come to a conclusion about how to get you both to act your age and maybe, even become friends," George began, "The lake."
"The lake? That's our punishment?! How is that a punishment? And friends? That's absurd! I could never be friends with- with- with- that!" Derek laughed, rolling his eyes.
"We're not finished, Derek," Nora warned, "Not the lake out with Grandma Felicia. We've rented a cabin on Lake Nipigon for the summer, and you and Derek will your two week spring break there. Together. Alone."
"Are you kidding me?" Casey shrieked, "I. Am. Not. Staying. With. Him. Alone. Mom, he'll kill us both! Or we'll kill each other! This is your great idea!"
"No arguments. Start packing. You're leaving tomorrow after school." George said, leaving the room with Nora.
"This is all your fault!" Derek growled, "Now, I have to spend my spring break in a cabin with you!"
"My fault?" Casey said, dubiously. "You were the one who put my bra in the freezer. God, when are you going to grow up?"
"You had to run to Dad and Nora!" Derek said, glaring at her.
"Well, you should've thought of that when you decided to resort back to being a total jerk!"
"Always gotta be a keener huh Case?" He spat back.
Casey rolled her eyes, "Whatever."
"Screw you," Derek huffed, storming up the stairs.
Casey stood in the living room breathing heavily. Her face was beat red. She could feel the blood that rushed to her head as she was arguing with Derek. He always got the best of her. She sat down on the couch and put her head in her hands. Tears stung in her eyes. Everything had been so perfect. She had Truman. Derek had been pleasant to her. She was getting good grades. Now, Truman was a scumbag. Derek was a dick. And, she was pretty sure she was going to fail her finals. She thought back to the party in Toronto again. She knew it was pointless and the memory would just hurt her, but she couldn't get it off of her mind. She couldn't believe Vicki had stolen yet another one of her 'boyfriends.' Granted Casey did always choose guys who would leave her for Vicki which proved her judgment wasn't that good to begin with. Derek had made her feel so much better that night. He had helped her when she was losing her mind. He didn't even freak out as bad when she cried. He even called her mom to help her. Now, he was doing everything he could to hurt her. Casey wasn't sure what to feel. She didn't want things to be different. She thought her and Derek were friends before, but after what he said tonight about being friends with 'that.' She knew it must have been her imagination. Always overactive.
Derek felt bad for yelling at Casey, but she could infuriate him sometimes. She always blamed him. It was usually his fault, but it was still hard when it felt like he could never do anything right. He picked up his guitar and strummed a few cords. He was having major writing block when it came to new songs for D-Rock. It didn't have any inspiration. Sally had motivated him before, but now she was gone. Derek didn't really want anyone else then. He was content, for the first time, being alone. Besides, he'd be heading to university in the fall. There was no point in making any connections now. He heard Casey's door shut, and her music click on. Every song was so damn depressing. He knew he should go apologize, but lately, when it came to Casey, Derek was more confused than anything.
"Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" Nora asked George as she made a cup of coffee at the kitchen counter.
George sat down at the counter behind her, "It's the only way they'll see that working together is going to work better for them. I feel guilty for taking away their last spring break, but this might be the last chance we have to help them. If we're going to buy them that apartment when they get to Queens, I need to know that they aren't going to burn it down. Right now, I'm not so convinced."
"I know," She sighed in agreement, sitting next to George. "I just feel really guilty. Maybe we should just make it one week."
"No," George shook his head, "They have to know that we mean business or they won't ever take us seriously."
Nora nodded resting her head on George's shoulder.
In the room next door, Lizzie, Edwin, and Marti sat on the floor. A bunch of papers surrounding them. Lizzie was scribbling something down quickly while Edwin talked. Marti listened attentively. Edwin continued talking while Lizzie took notes. Marti smiled growing even more excited than before. Lizzie pulled a chart out of a bright purple folder and reported her findings to Edwin. Marti leaned in intently. Her eyes growing wider with every word.
"The down fall was right after the party." Edwin concluded. "The party where Derek took care of Casey."
Marti clapped excitedly, "Smerek and….." She began singing her song while the elder two talked.
"So do you really think…" Lizzie asked trailing off.
"It's happening," Edwin said full of certainty.
" K. I. S. S. I. N. G." Marti finished and then looked at him wearily, "How can we be sure?"
"Did you see the way they looked at each other?" Lizzie asked, her eyes gleaming with hope.
"Operation Dasey is a go." They smiled together, packing up their papers into the folder.
A/N: There you go! I hope everyone enjoyed! Please review and comment!