Title: The tree

Enjoy!:)


Derek watched the scene unfold before him. He didn't budge from his comfortable spot under the tree he'd been sitting under for the past hour. It was his favorite spot between classes, anyway.

Casey was at the quad right across from him flipping through her textbook, probably finishing homework before she'd get back to their apartment in a couple hours. She looked nice today, he had to note. It was a lot easier noticing how nice she looked now that they weren't living at home anymore and he wasn't putting up a show for their siblings so they can see that he was still king of the house. Of course, such nice thoughts about her made him want to puke, but when he wasn't thinking of puking, he really did enjoy admiring his stepsister.

A couple of girls had sat next to her and they were talking. It took him a while to realize they weren't talking to each other, but to Casey. The way their faces wrinkled in disgust signified that they weren't exactly being friendly.

So he sat up, resting his elbows on his knees, carefully watching Casey's face. She was doing a good job of not reacting, because he couldn't read her face. It was as if she couldn't hear them.

Until one of them slapped her book out of Casey's hand to get her attention. The movement caused Derek to stiffen. He wasn't about to let somebody hurt Casey if she isn't bothering them.

So, in a very Derek-like fashion, he cooly stood up and stode over to the table where the girls sat. He grabbed all of their attention quickly, becuase all of them, even Casey, looked up to watch him walk over.

And he did look quite attractive walking over. He was wearing his leather jacket over a plain white t-shirt and his old jeans that were torn at the knees. He looked good, Casey thought.

"Derek Venturi?" One of the girls gushed. He recognized her from his Composition class, but couldn't place a name to her face. He just nodded at her with a smirk.

"What's going on, ladies?" he nodded at Casey, this time, being sure to completely ignore everyone else now. She only blushed a deeper shade of red.

"We were just talking with our new friend, here." One of the girls snatched the pencil from Casey's hand. Derek clentched his fists, but kept his eyes on Casey to watch for her reaction. She only closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Your friend, huh?" he crossed his arms, and eyed the other girls.

"Well...not technically." One girl couldn't hold in her giggle. He tilted his head at her and gave her a quizical look that shut her giggling up and made her feel intimidated.

"Then if she's not technically your friend, you mind if I steal her away? I needed company under my tree over there." he pointed to his previous spot where he lay before.

Every girl, along with Casey's, mouth dropped open. He couldn't be serious. He absolutely refused to even acknowledge her on campus since they'd started a couple of months ago. Now he was here, inviting her to sit under his obviously favorite spot?

"Me?"

"Her?" Two girls chimed in as Casey spoke. Derek smirked, and shrugged.

"Yeah, you, Princess. C'mon, yeah?" he reached over the table and picked up her books for her as he waited for her to grab her bag.

Still confused, Casey followed. Anything, really to get away from those girls. She was also very curious as to what Derek's motives were. So she accompanied him. He sat, and leaned against the tree, and looked up at her expectantly.

"Is this a joke? Because, I really can't take anymore teasing today, Der." she said soflty. It really did break his heart to hear her insecurities through her voice.

"Not a joke. Take a seat, Case." He pat the ground next to him.

So she sat. And it really was nice. The grass was nice and soft under them, and the tree provided enough shade, not to mention that the view was nice. She could see a nice portion of campus from the spot, and the tree was really comfortable to lean against. She smiled, finally able to relax.

Hearing her sigh of relief, Derek leaned back, too, and continued his own relaxing.

"Thanks, by the way." her voice was still as soft as it was before. He peeked down at her, and she was looking over to her table, where the girls were watching, still in awe that Derek picked her to sit with him.

"It's nothing." he shrugged, sitting up a little to look at her better. "What were they saying to you?"

She laughed a little and shrugged. "You'd think getting into a great school like Queens, you'd get away from all the people who ever teased you for being smart."

"You couldn't get away from me." he nudged her side.

"Yeah, well it's probably karma from a previous life." she grinned back at him. "Anyways...thanks, Der. They've been on my case for the past week." she rolled her eyes, and opened her book.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Didn't think you cared?" she shrugged, and pulled out her pencil as she completed her work.

"Well, I do..." he drifted off. She looked up at him, and this time it was him looking over to the girls with a look of disgust. "Plus, if anyone's going to make your life hell, it has to be me." he looked down at her with a smirk back on his face. Casey groaned, and leaned her forehead on his shoulder. He ignored the feeling in the pit of his stomach and the urge to run his fingers through her hair.

"Well, if you make my life hell, can it be at this tree? It really is quite beautiful on this spot." she smiled, taking note of the scenery once again.

"I'll be here everyday at the same time." he shrugged.

"Great." she smiled.

The greater thing about the whole situation was Derek being okay with her hanging out with him everyday, and that awesome moment when she heard those mean girls that picked on her complaining about "Derek Venturi going out with that keener girl Casey" not too long after.


Honestly got the idea watching Freaks and Geeks. On the first episode when this special needs kid is getting picked on and the main female character sticks up for him and asks him to the dance. Everyone is like "woah, okay?" It has nothing to do with Dasey, but I thought about it when I was watching it just now, so I decided to write it.

Derek sticking up for Casey in his own way is nice, eh? I love seeing people stick up for other people. It gives me hope in humanity, you know?

You guys like Freaks and Geeks? Sadly, an amazing short lived show. You should watch it. It's only one season, unfortunately. But it's on YouTube. It really is amazing. Check it out:).

Also, thanks for your reviews. Review this one?:))))