Disclaimer: I do not own Life With Derek.

Author's Note: Sorry guys! I'm back!! Chapter probably sucks, sorry. :(

Chapter Six

Crystal had sat by Derek's side for the past few days, squeezing his hands, running errands for him. She realized how much she loved him. People around campus had been asking about him, she didn't even know what was wrong with him. She did find herself infatuated with this Casey McDonald's diary, thinking about it constantly. She wanted to know what happened after the party, after the rainy night.

Against Derek's wishes, Crystal found herself stealing the key and once again reading the diary when Derek was asleep. She opened the book, yellow, a bit faded with age, but still readable. She flipped open to the diary entry a few days after the party and read quietly to herself: "Dear Diary, I don't know what to do..."

"...Emily confronted Derek at school. He was a bit upset about it, came home and yelled at me. I haven't talked much to Ricky, he claims he's busy. I'm starting to care less." Casey chewed on her pencil, laying on her stomach, feet swaying in the air. She looked up and then quickly started to scribble on the paper again, talking outloud to herself what she wrote. "I don't want to lose Ricky or Derek. They mean a lot to me, but both are upset. Why are they mad at me? I didn't do anything. Boys, boys, boys. So... well, confusing!"

Casey heard the front door creaking and then close quickly. Casey raised a puzzled eyebrow and looked at the clock on her dresser. The clock read: 12:31 A.M. Was Derek sneaking out? Casey quickly slipped on some blue, fuzzy slippers and ran down the stairs and silently out the front door. She saw a car parked outside and her older step-brother doing a quick jog to the car. "Derek?" Casey calmly called out. She watched Derek turn around, she bit her bottom lip hard and stared him in the eye.

"What?" Derek demanded, Casey could see the hurt in his eyes. She didn't know why, but she walked towards him, he didn't move. Someone in the car yelled out for Derek to come on but the two of them stood still. Casey was inches away from him, just staring in his eyes. He looked down quickly and then to the side. Casey tip-toed onto the balls of her feet, leaned up, and kissed him quickly on the lips before falling back down onto her heels. Derek licked his lips quickly and then grabbed her hand and walked with her back into the house. Casey was somewhat confused but she stood there in the foyer of the house as Derek closed the front door and pushed her up against the wall. Casey felt her heart beating, she wasn't sure what was going on, not even when Derek's lips fell on top of her's. Everything was quite awkward, she was against the wall, arms at her sides. Derek's hands were on either side of her, his head leaning down to kiss her.

At least the kiss was great.

It felt like a dream sequence when Derek pulled from the kiss and stepped back. Casey heard a cell phone vibrate and Derek pulled it from his pocket and threw it to the floor. Then Derek picked Casey up in his arms like a groom does to a bride before they enter their new house and new life together. Casey looked up at him, she saw him in a whole new light for a few seconds, then he kissed her again while he carried her up the stairs. Casey was a little frightened she'd admit, nothing like this had happened to her before. No guy had been so gentle and romantic as Derek. He carried her into her bedroom and laied her in bed. Casey was scared something could happen, but it didn't. He looked at her, kissed her lips and then stated: "Why are you up? Its way past your bed time." Then Derek was gone. Casey didn't know if he went back to his room or snuck out that night. All she knew was that he was up the next morning before she was.

Crystal hadn't known Derek to be like that before. Sure, he had times where he was sweet and caring, but something about this made Crystal extremely jealous. She realized that Derek loved this girl, step-sister or not. The whole issue there, she also found, didn't bother her either as much as she might've thought it would. She read on.

Then next night, Derek and Casey invited a few people over to their house while their parents were out. All with permission, of course. Casey had over Emily, Sheldon, and Ricky. While Derek invited over Sam, Ralph, and his new girlfriend Amanda. Amanda was a pretty girl with long red hair and freckles speckeled around a perfect, heart-shaped face. Casey found herself growing green with envy, but she kept it to herself. She had Ricky, whose hands were playing with her's, she'd giggle occassionally and kiss him, but all the while looking over at Derek. Derek was sitting on the arm of the couch, his arm dangled over Amanda's shoulders, from underneath his hair, Casey saw him looking back at her. She had never hated him more.

Amanda had to think that she was on top of the world. She was Derek's girlfriend, the most popular boy in school...

"So," Ralph said in the middle of a movie the group was watching. "when do your guys' parents get home?"

Derek chuckled, "Not for a while. The kids are all spending the night elsewhere and they said you all had to be gone by one, at least."

"Well, its only eight-thirty, and..." Ralph grinned as he reached into the backpack he brought and pulled out a six pack of beer. The boys around laughed, including Ricky, which made Casey spring back from him and angrily scoff.

"Der-ek!" Casey screeched, "Help me get the snacks from the kitchen!" Casey stomped her foot and gave Ralph and dirty look. Derek chuckled a bit as he followed his step-sister into the kitchen. As he entered he leaned against the wall and shoved his hands in his pockets. "What is this, Derek? Beer? In the house? If Nora and your father found out, we would never again be able to have company again when they're not home! Are you crazy?"

Derek shook his head. "Which is why they won't find out," he placed his index finger to Casey's lips. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a lovely girl in there waiting for me." As Derek began to turn around, Casey slapped him across the face, imprinting a red hand-print onto his face. Derek winced and held his face. "What as that for?"

Casey glared at him and placed her hands on her hips. "You know exactly what for." The words that every boy hates to hear, because in a girl's mind, they know what's wrong, but in a boy'd mind he has no idea what he did.

Derek took a few short breathes and then grabbed Casey's shoulders, "Woah, woah, woah!" A smirk appeared across his lips as he placed his arm around Casey's shoulder, who shrunk back. "You're jealous about Amanda? Aren't you?" He turned to face her, his face level to her's. "Why? Is it because she's prettier than you? Or maybe because... I don't know, she's mine?" Derek's eyes were like fire, Casey's lip trembled. Last night... and now... "Be careful who you pick your fights with. Now, go get some snacks, that's why you came in here."

Casey swallowed the lump in her throat, but appeared out, as happy as ever. She placed the tray of food on the coffee table for everyone. Ricky, Derek, Sam, Ralph, and Amanda had a beer in their hand, Emily and Sheldon were sitting on the edge of the couch making out. Casey felt like the whole room was spinning around her, she saw everything bad, immoral, all around her. From the corner of her eye, she saw Derek lean down and kiss Amanda's lips, but she saw the corner of his eye lock with her's. Casey knew what he was doing, she wanted to scream and cry all at the same time.

"Here Case, you look a little down," Ricky took the last beer from the pack and handed it to her.

"I don't drink, you know that Rick," Casey protested.

"There's a first time for everything..." Rick winked. Casey wrinkled her eyebrows and slid away.

"Its the last one..." Casey said, "I wouldn't want to..."

Ralph laughed and pulled out another pack. "Don't worry, darlin', we're fine."

Casey had about three beers before Ralph decided it would be a good idea to play truth or dare. "Anything goes!" Derek laughed, "I know some of us are taken, but you know, to make everything more interesting..."

"I don't mind," Ricky laughed, as he twirled a piece of Amanda's hair around his fingers. "Its just a game." Casey looked at him, rather disgusted.

"I go first," Derek said, his speech began to slur. "I dare..." he looked around the room. "for Casey to kiss Sam." He laughed, like it was a big accomplishment.

"Eww!" Casey shrieked, she was going to need another drink...