Author's Note: This is my first Life With Derek fic! It is Dasey, so if that offends you I'm sorry. For my purposes, Derek is a good singer, because when I wrote this I was somehow under the impression that he was. Haha, oh well. Also, if you love High School Musical, this might make more sense to you.

High School Musical

Prologue

How It All Began

Casey paced the hallway outside of Mrs. Robinson's classroom, eagerly anticipating the posting of the names of the stars of the school musical. They were doing their adaptation of the musical "High School Musical", and Casey hoped to get the part of Gabriella. In fact, if she didn't get the part, she wouldn't do the play at all, it was that simple.

As Mrs. Robinson's door swung open, she could see a smile on the woman's face, and Casey immediately knew she had gotten the part. The only thing to worry about now was who was going to play Troy, her love interest. She guessed it might be some drama nerd, but really hoped that it was Max. She had convinced him to audition, even though he claimed that he couldn't sing a note.

"Excuse me, excuse me," a tall, lanky boy with a serious ego problem proclaimed, "the star has arrived." He scanned the list of names, raising his eyebrows suggestively when he saw Casey's name, but backing away angrily soon after.

"Guess someone didn't get the part," Casey whispered under her breath, and finally mustered the courage to check the list of names.

Supporting Characters

Sharpay to be played by Kendra Collins. Great, that suits her.

Ryan to be played by Sam Weyman. Working with my ex, how annoying. But I guess Sam isn't that bad when he isn't around Derek.

Chad to be played by Max Jones. Wait—if Max isn't playing Troy, then who is?

Leads

Gabriella-to be played by Casey MacDonald

Troy-to be played by Derek Venturi

"Oh my god," Casey thought, but this time she didn't realize that she was saying it out loud.

As Derek rounded the corner to the Drama department, he could already see Casey in full fledged panic-mode, probably debating whether to run to the guidance counselor's office for a therapy session or wait until he showed up so that she could kill him.

"Someone doesn't want to share their spotlight, now do they?" He said, unable to keep from smirking.

"How could you?" Casey said, genuinely upset, "How could they pick you? Why does everything in my life go so wrong?"

"One; Easy, I tried out. Two; I rock, you know that. Three; because you are a mess Casey, and you cause destruction everywhere you go, and that's not my fault." Derek ignored her hysterics and read the list of actors chosen.

All of Casey's books fell to the floor, and Derek laughed, almost bending down to help her pick them up, but then stopping himself. It didn't matter. Max was already walking towards them, coming to the rescue.

"Derek," he said in greeting, as he handed Casey back her books and gave her a hug.

Derek ignored his attempt at being nice, and started in on Casey again.

"So how does it feel, knowing that I don't give a damn about any of this musical bullshit and I can still get the lead," he said, intending to drag this out as long as possible.

"He got the lead?" Max said incredulously. Casey nodded miserably.

"That's so shocking?" Derek said, annoyed. Everyone knew he could sing; his band did gigs all over town all the time. Max was a complete ass.

"No man, I'm not saying that," Max shot back, shooting Casey a knowing look. "I'm just saying it's kind of fucked up."

"It's fucked up?" Now Derek was getting angry. He hated all of the football players, they always had a competition with Derek and the other hockey players, but Max was pushing it.

"Well because, you know, they're supposed to like each other & you two are related." Max raised his eyebrows, "So I think that's fucked up, that's all."

Casey didn't say anything, and neither did Derek.

Derek had absolutely no idea what this musical was about. Even though it seemed like every girl he had dated in the past year had obsessed over High School Musical, he had never watched it. He didn't know if it was action or romance or drama or anything. All he had cared about was pissing off Casey.

"We're not related," Casey said quietly before storming off, and Derek didn't know whether she was defending Derek or trying to distance herself from him.

That night at dinner Casey refused to come down. She stayed in her room with Lizzie consoling her.

Derek was the one who had to explain the situation to George and Nora.

"She's mad because I'm in the musical too, and doesn't want me to steal her spotlight," he explained calmly over dinner.

"That doesn't sound like Casey," George chimed in. "You two have sung together in the past."

Derek shrugged and ate quickly. He didn't want to tell them why this would be a hell of a lot different than the last time.

Derek knocked on Casey's door before he went to his own room. It swung open and Lizzie passed him.

"Be careful in there," she whispered, rushing as far away from Casey's dramatics as she could.

"I'm not going to drop out." He had planned on doing so only a few minutes before, but now for some reason he wanted to prove to Casey that he would never back down. That he was better than her.

"Do you have any idea how weird this is going to be? What people are going to say? What Emily and Max and Sam and Kendra and everyone will think?" She shook her head.

"Who cares?" It was unconvincing to him, even. Derek Venturi did care what people thought of him. He had an image, a reputation, and a way of keeping it, and it didn't involve musicals or hanging around Casey.

"Have you seen this movie? Troy and Gabriella fall in love! They have chemistry, they are cute together! That's why I wanted Max to play the part. This is just so weird."

"Look Casey, I'm a boy and you're a girl, as much as I don't want to think about that. This isn't real, it's called acting. And I'll have to be a pretty darn good one to convince people that I like you." He laughed, and could almost see Casey beginning to believe him.

"Besides, it's not like acting made the real Troy and Gabriella fall in love in real life."

"Actually…"

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