Disclaimer: I do not own Life With Derek

Casey pushed her door open and fell to her bed with a sigh, "Ugh. I cannot believe Derek!"

Noel smiled and took a seat in the computer chair, dropping his backpack beside him.

"Are you really surprised Casey? I mean, this is Derek we're talking about."

Casey sat up with a laugh, "You're right. Don't know why I would expect more."

"Just forget about him."

Casey nodded, "You're right. Let's get to work."

"I wasn't sure exactly which poem you were wanting to work on" Noel said as he brought his backpack up to his lap, "I just brought them all."

Casey scooted closer to the edge of her bed, "Well I was thinking we could work on-"

She was cut off by a loud crash from downstairs.

Noel and Casey looked at each other with wide eyes.

"I know you said things get crazy around here Casey…but is that normal?"

Casey shot off her bed, "No!"

Noel quickly followed behind her, dropping his notebook on the bed as he walked past.

"Mom!" Casey hurried down the stairs, "What happened?"

Nora looked up from where she was kneeling next to an unconscious George.

"Oh my God, is he okay?"

"He'll be fine" Derek came in from the kitchen and handed Nora a small bottle.

"He was just…shocked."

Casey whirled on Derek, "What did you do?"

Derek threw his hands up, "Hey! Why do you always think it was me?"

"Because it usually is."

"That is completely besides the point."

Noel joined Nora on the ground, "Can I help?"

Nora smiled briefly at him, "Thanks Noel. Just hold his head up please."

"Would it kill you for one moment to just stop talking?"

Noel crouched next to George's head and slowly lifted as Nora put the bottle of smelling salt under his nose.

"At least I didn't give my parent a concussion!"

George groaned and opened his eyes, "What happened?"

"You are such a drama queen"

"I am not!"

Noel helped George sit up and looked over his shoulder at Casey and Derek, who were both lost in their argument.

"Are they always like this?" he asked Nora.

Nora rolled her eyes as she led George to the couch, "This is a good day."

"Casey?"

Casey whipped around her face flushed, "What?"

"George is fine. You can stop yelling" Nora said gently.

Casey blushed and went over to the couch, "What happened?"

"Derek dropped a bombshell on us."

"Oh really?"

Casey sat on the back of the couch and crossed her arms, "What now? He finally pass the 1st grade?"

"You finally learn to stop being an uptight priss?"

"You finally learn how to count?"

Noel tilted his head as he watched the two of them. With every heated insult they would move closer to each other till they were nearly brushing noses.

"Klutz."

"Manwhore"

"Princess"

"Lazy ass!"

Derek's eyes darkened, "Well at least I can get a job."

"Derek wants to open his own business" Nora interjected before things got out of hand.

Casey's eyebrows shot up so fast it was amazing they didn't fly off her forehead, "Say what?"

"Derek asked to barrow some money." George said with a dark look towards his son.

"To start his own business."

Casey regarded Derek suspiciously, "How much?"

Nora and George immediately covered their ears.

"About $600,000"

Pause.

"WHAT!"

Nora sighed and leaned over to George, "Let's finish our work downstairs. I have a feeling it's not going to be quite up here for a while."

George nodded, "Agreed" then wince as his head throbbed.

Their parents quickly slipped out as Casey leaped to his feet, "What in God's name are you planning on doing that would cost that much!"

Derek smirked smugly, "A Calamari Stand."

Casey wrinkled her nose in disgust, "Ew!"

"What's the matter princess, don't like slimy things?"

Casey glared, "I'm not sure what surprises me more. The fact you actually know what calamari means…or the fact you came to Mom and George for help."

"I didn't come to this for help." Derek spat the last word out as if it tasted bad.

"I asked them for money."

"Which translates into asking for help."

"It does not!"

"Does so!"

"Casey!"

Casey looked over to see Noel slowly inching towards the door. Noel cautiously raised his hand, "You want to finish our work later?…Or something?"

Casey gave Derek one more heated look over her shoulder before stalking off towards the stairs, "No. We'll do it now!"

Noel started to follow her, but stopped when he saw Derek's eyes were glued to her, until she disappeared up the stairs.

Giving Derek a strange look, which other boy answered with a glare, "What?" Derek snapped.

Noel just shook his head and jogged up the stairs after Casey.

Casey paced back and forth in her room. It was just not fair. Somehow Derek had convinced their parents to loan him the money for his stupid calamari stand. And now, al most a year later, he was ready to open.

Sitting on her bed, she pulled out her journal and started writing her frustrations down.

Almost an hour later Lizzie stuck her head in the room, "Dinner's ready Casey."

"Be right down" Casey answered without looking up.

Casey heard her knock on Derek's door then open it, "Dinner's ready."

The door close and Lizzie's footsteps faded down the hallway.

Closing her book, Casey stuck it under her pillow and stood up to stretch.

"Casey!" Nora called up the stairs."

Casey quickly exited her room and shut the door behind her. Turning around quickly, she collided with Derek, who had also come out of his room at the same time.

Casey closed her eyes, waiting to hit the ground, but was surprised to feel a pair of arms wrapped around her waist.

Opening her eyes, she found herself staring into Derek's dark ones.

Neither spoke for several minutes.

"I get it now" Derek whispered.

"Get what?" Casey asked just as softly.

Instead of answering here, Derek slowly leaned towards her and Casey's breath caught in her throat.

Realizing what was about to happen Casey panicked.

"Derek?"

Something flashed through Derek's eyes as if he realized what he was about to do. Pulling back, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and Casey wrapped her arms around herself nervously.

The air around them was almost choking it was so thick.

"Umm.." Derek finally spoke, licking his lips, "Looks like Klutzilla strikes again."

The way he said it, was so soft and different. Casey couldn't bring herself to be mad at him.

"Yeah…I-I guess so."

Derek suddenly spun and his heels and hurried down the stairs, leaving Casey staring bewildered after him.

What was that?