Thanks for reviewing! Was beginning to withdraw into my shell again, caught me right on time.

Disclaimer: Still don't own Life With Denial... I mean Derek

Chapter Two

My mom was happy to have us home early, but was a lot less surprised than I'd hoped. She'd guessed, apparently, when I'd tried to subtly demand their day's plans so that they'd all be home. I couldn't help but sulk a little at my own transparency, even though George was thoroughly surprised, having forgotten it was this weekend at all, and therefore having no reason to suspect a thing.

Marti jumped straight on Derek, barely noticing me at first, but giving me equal attention once she had, and we all laughed as she launched straight into telling us how she hated Demi because he had had a cup-cake at lunch today and refused to share with her.

By the time we sat down to dinner the service station incident was safely stored in the back of my mind, waiting to be called upon next time Derek was a jerk. It rested there safe in the knowledge that it probably wouldn't be long.

"It's so good having the family all together again! I don't know why but when you guys come over the weekend it just never seems long enough." Mom looked around at us all. I knew she was still hormonal from having the baby, which is why I smiled and said 'aw' instead of grimacing.

It isn't that I minded being together as a family again, it's just that since the baby Mom and George were always pre-occupied, and Lizzie was always talking about her next protest or about an article she was writing for the school paper, which she was now a regular columist on. Edwin was always kissing up to Derek for tips with girls, and Marti was... well Marti; which is great but I can't really talk with her about anything. When mom made comments like that it just made me wish things were back how they were before college and the baby.

"So, how are things going at school?" I asked Lizzie and Edwin, when Mom's outburst failed to kickstart conversation.

"It's going great! The editor of the paper said I might even get front page next edition!" Lizzie enthused, "He said I've got a lot of potential and I might even make it as a writer one day!"

"That's because he wants to get in her pants." Edwin informed us.

"Edwin!" Lizzie thumped him in the arm and he nearly fell out of his chair. "I'll have you know, Darren is a perfect gentleman."

"Oh, so that's who Darren is." I grinned.

"He's also two grades above us." Edwin said in an accusitory tone.

Derek made a spluttering noise. "Oh, no, you are not dating seventeen year old!"

Lizzie pouted. "We're not dating, not that you would stop me!" She crossed her arms and slouched back in her chair.

"I hate to say it, but maybe Derek's right," I couldn't believe those words had come out of my mouth but I pressed on anyway. "Don't you think he's a little old for you?"

"It's only two years!" Lizzie's pout turned into a scowl. "Besides, I told you, we aren't dating."

George tried to help and failed miserably. "I think maybe what Derek and Casey are saying is that he might have certain expectations..."

"I am not hearing this!" Lizzie looked at him in horror, "We are not having this conversation. We're not dating, conversation over!"

An awkward silence prevailed for several minutes.

"So how was the drive down?" Mom asked after awhile, looking between me and Derek.

It was my turn to pout and lean back; what he had done came flooding back into my mind along with my anger.

Derek shrugged, "Casey had a hissy fit half way, but the first half was fine."

"Oh?" Mom looked at me but I kept a stoney silence, daring him to tell them what he did.

"She said she wanted out of the car, so I let her out of the car." He smirked. I wanted to rip that smirk from his face and feed it to him.

"And then left me at a service station in the middle of nowhere!" I couldn't help but adding.

"You did what?!" Mom glared at Derek and it was my turn to smirk.

"Relax, I only went a little way down the road, I wasn't actually gonna leave her there; as evidenced by her being here!" He raised his hands in defense.

"I was alone for at least ten minutes! Anything could have happened to me!" I leant forward and looked daggers at him, an expression he returned. Why did I always find myself moving towards him when we argued? Probably a subconcious dominance thing, 'cause he always did too.

"Nothing happened to you, more's the pity," I narrowed my eyes at him and he continued, "And I was only gone for a minute, it took me nine minutes to find you though, 'cause you ran off!"

"She actually thought you'd left? Classic!" Edwin interjected, recieving death glares from us both.

"I did not 'run off', I went into the diner to see if I could find a phone to call for help!" I turned my glare back to Derek. "And it was a really horrible thing to do!"

"Oh, come on Princess, it's not my fault you fell for it." His smirk was back, "Maybe if you had brain you might have realised I wasn't about to leave you behind when I need you for gas money on the way back."

"There is no way I'm driving back with you, let alone giving you gas money."

"Then how will you get back?"

He had me there. "I'll take the bus!" I said out of desperation not to lose, though we both knew I wasn't about to do that.

His eyes danced in triumph, seeing right through me as I'd known he would. All of a sudden I felt uncomfortable with his victorious stare and turned away, trying to change the subject.

"So, mom, is Simon sleeping through yet?"

"No," She sighed, "I think he's gowing through another growth spurt. I swear, you girls were never this much trouble when you babies."

"That's because we're girls, and not Venturi's." I explained.

Mom smiled, "All the same, I wish he'd let us get some sleep! We're both exhausted."

"I'll stay up with him tonight if you want?" I offered without thinking, but I couldn't take it back when I saw the relief on my mom's face.

"Casey, are you sure?" She asked, a twinge of concience in her voice.

"Yeah, sure. I want to finish some work so I can relax properly anyway." I shrugged and smiled my reassurance.

"You're gonna start winter break with homework!" Derek said in disbelief. "Could you be any more of a keener?"

I tried to ignore him, but of course, Derek couldn't let it go without a reaction.

"I mean seriously, do you even have a life or is your sad obsession with school due to a lack of social interaction?"

I turned to face him. "Wow, did you make that whole sentence by yourself or did you have to use a dictionary?" I said calmly.

He gave a snort and turned to ask Edwin about his love life.

My hands were clenched under the table and my blood was pounding through me. Why did he manage to annoy me so much? Why couldn't I just ignore him? I decided next time I would, next time there would be no reaction. That would drive him crazy.

I realised I was giving the opposit wall a death glare and that Lizzie and Mom were looking at me strangely. I gave a strained smile and excused myself, saying I would have a nap ready for tonight.

As of yet I still had my room, though Mom and George told me they'd want it back when Steven was old enough to go in his own room. It stung but I took a perverse pleasure in knowing that it wouldn't be just me, Derek's room was going to be said nursery. He owed it keeping it's furniture and decor for now to George's procrastination.

I shoved in through my door and slammed down on the bed, a twang of sadness going through me at knowing this visit could very likely be the last time I'd ever sleep in that room.

I stared in blank annoyance at the ceiling before taking a deep breath, opening the book I'd left on the nightstand earlier, and trying to forget Derek Venturi even existed.

As if I was ever able to do that.

Sorry not much Dasey yet, just trying to build up some atmosphere. Let me know how I'm doing :)