Hey guys, here´s a new chapter!
Sorry it took me so long but I hurt my hand and it is very hard to type with one hand and believe me you get annoyed very fast by that because it takes so long! XD

Anyway, hope you like this one!

And again, I don´t own life with Derek. If I would, there would be Dasey! ;P

Casey hadn´t talked to Derek for 3 days. She was on her way to school before he even got out of bed and during the lessons with him she focused on the teacher even more.

„Casey!" Damn it!

„What do you want?" she snapped, turning around to look at him.

„Ehm..." Derek actually hadn´t expected her to answer and now he didn´t know what to say.

„Speechless?" Casey asked ironic. „Well that´s a nice change, and you better get used to it Derek Venturi because you´ll never talk to me again!" if looks could kill Casey McDonald would have been prosecuted for murdering her step-brother right now.

She rushed past him to get to the car but Derek wouldn´t let her. He grabbed Casey´s arm and turned her back to him. She wanted to yell hat him again but suddenly his eyes caught her.

„I...I..." Wow...I never realized how brown his eyes are...

Derek had expected her to yell at him again, but all he got was an akward silence.

Without a chance to prevent it, the picture of Casey just wrapped into a towel showed up in his mind again. Man, I need to get rid of this! Stop finding your STEP-SISTER attractive!

Derek tried to get rid of the picture because he knew that after all he should imagine Sally, his girlfriend, just wrapped into a towel and not his step-sister Casey.

„Look, I´m sorry." this was the moment Casey broke herself free from the spell she was under since looking into Derek´s eyes.

Did he just said that he was sorry? This seemed to happen a lot lately.

„W..what?" she managed to say.

„I didn´t meant to...catch up with you in such a private situation. And this time I mean it. Lizzie told me you were in your room and I really didn´t expected you to be in the bathroom."

Casey looked at him. That sounded logical.

„So...are we cool?" The truth was, Derek just couldn´t stand not talking to Casey. Without pranking her and her yelling his name in such a familar way, something was clearly missing in his life.

Casey wasn´t sure whether to believe him or not. He seemed to be serious.

„Ok." she finally said. A smile flitted across his face.

„So you give me a ride home?" she smiled too. „Sure!"

„Casey!" someone called her name and she turned around. „Max!" her boyfriend stopped in front of her and gave her a kiss.

„You wanna go out for a Pizza?" she looked between him and Derek.

„Well..." of course she wanted to, but actually she had looked forward to drive home with Derek.

Casey, don´t tell me you can´t decide between your boyfriend and your annoying step-brother!

Why did driving home with Derek sounded so much better then going out for a pizza with Max?

„Look, I´d love to but I really need to study for this history test." Technically, this wasn´t a lie.

her boyfriend looked a bit disappointed but then he smiled. „No problem, I have something better planned for us. We´ll go out for dinner tomorrow. I´ll tak you to the new Italian restaurant. You know, at the opposite of Smelly Nellie´s?" Casey got ecxited, that was a really elegant restaurant! He would take her there?

„I´ll pick you up at 6 pm, ok?" she just nodded and gave him a kiss.

Derek looked away and made a face. I just don´t like this guy!

He didn´t have a particular reason, he was just not very appealing to him.

„Hey Casey! You wanted to give me ride home, remember?" she rolled her eyes. „Sure."

then she turned around, grabbed Derek by his jacked and pulled him towards the exit.

Nora had set up the table for dinner and everyone was waiting for the food. „Dad, I´m hungry. I had a hard day at school!" Derek said in direction of his father but he wasn´t listening.

„I have an announcement!" instead of replying to his son, George got up from his chair.

„As we all know, you guys have no school tomorrow because of the Memorial Day. That means we have a three days weekend and Nora and me we decided to do a family trip!" he smiled brightly.

Derek, Casey, Edwin and Lizzie exchanged looks. Never. Family trips in the Venturi/McDonalds household always ended up with a desaster.

„Sorry George, we can´t come with you!" Casey just realized something that saved her and Derek from participating in this whole „family thing".

„Why?" she put on a very apologetic look. „Our school planned two fieldtrips this weekend. Remember Mom, I told you that?!" Nora seemed to think. „I guess you did." she also couldn´t imagine that her responsable daughter forgot to tell her something important like that.

Edwin glaced over to Lizzie. Why didn´t we have such a good excuse? He thought and it was qbvious that Lizzie thought the same.

„That´s a pitty. I guess then we have to go just with Martie, Edwin and Lizzie. Can we leave you guys here alone?" right at this moment Casey realized what it meant. Her and Derek, alone for 3 days? THAT could just end up in a desaster!

„S...sure." she stuttered and glanced over to Derek because she was a bad liar and she couldn´t really hide what she was feeling. And right now she wasn´t sure if she would survive this weekend, but she wanted her parents to leave because this meant a weekend just for her. She could spend it with Max or Emily.

„Of yourse you can." Derek said with a big smile. „We´re responsable adults. We can take care of ourselves." this didn´t really make sense out of Derek´s mouth but Nora and George seemed to believe it. „Well then things are fixed. I´ll go and get the food!"

The next day Nora, George and the kids left early. Casey was still sleeping and Derek was on the phone with Sally.

„No...yeah sure. We can go out for dinner this evening. But we can also do something that´s even better. What do you think about coming over tonight and I´ll cook for you? My parents took the other kids out on a family trip and Casey is on a date with Max." Sally agreed and she seemed to be very happy. Derek hung up the phone and felt like slapping himself right into the face.

What the heck did you thought Derek Venturi? The only thing you can cook are things from the freezer compartment and just because you can put them into the microwave! But he couldn´t serve something like that on a romantic date, his first real romantic date, with Sally!

He definitely needed help!

While Derek got desperated downstairs Casey was awake and standing in front of her closet to find something to wear for tonight. „This is going to be sooo awsome!" she already imagined herself and Max sitting on a table in the restaurant. Romantic music was playing and while eating delicious food he was telling her how much he loved her.

„Casey?" she startled up and the blue dress in her hands slipped to the floor. „DE-REK!"

she saw him in the mirror and turned around.

There it was, the familar thing he had missed so much over the past 4 days. It was just the way she said it. He kind of needed it.

He looked at her for a moment because he had completly forgotten why he came here.

„I like the red one better on you!" Ok, this was definitely not what he wanted to say.

„Really?" Casey was so surprised by this statement that she didn´t realized how strange it was, Derek telling her what looked good on her or what might not.

„Sure, it makes your eyes sparkle." What the heck are you saying there Derek? Are you crazy?

„It does what?" he shook his head. „Nothing. Ehm...Casey? Could you do me favor?" he tried to divert her. „What do you want Derek?"

He explained the whole situation with Sally and the promised self-cooked dinner.

„So you want me to cook your dinner for Sally?" he nodded slightly. „For that Derek Venturi, you owe me something really big!" a smile spreaded aross his face. „You´re gonna do it?" he asked and Casey nodded. „Something really big!" she reminded him. „Anything you want Case!"

That sounded tempting, and she also didn´t wanted to mess things up for Derek on his first date.

At least, not with Sally. „So what do you want me to cook?" he shrugged his shoulders. „Anything you want, just nothing from the freezer compartment!" she rolled her eyes. „Are you trying to insult me Derek?"

At 5.45 pm the table in the living room was set. The lights were turned low, Casey had placed candles and rose petals everywhere. It looked very romantic. „Don´t you think that´s a bit over the top Casey?" she shook her head. „Girls love it and Sally will love it too. For once in your life, believe me Derek!" he decided to believe her. He could do it once in his life, that didn´t seemed very much.

„The food is still on the cooker, I´ll go and get dressed now!" with that she was upstairs to get ready for her romantic date with Max.

15 minutes later she came back, walking down the stairs and Derek´s heart stopped beating just for a second. She was beautiful. Her brown hair was curled and floated over her shoulders. And, to his surprise, she was wearing the red dress he had talked about this morning. He shut his mouth not to say anything either stupid or embarrassing.

„So..." she turned around in front of him. „Do you like it?"

Think Derek, think! „Yeah, nice dress." saved.

„Thanks." Casey didn´t know why, but she had expected something more. Didn´t he said something about her eyes sparkling this morning? The doorbell rang and interrupted her thoughts.

She opened it to find Max, dressed in a black suit with a bouquet of roses in his hands.

„Oh thanks! That´s so sweet!" she gave him a big smile and hurried into the kitchen to get a vase for the flowers. „You look very cute today, nice dress!" Hm. Nothing about sparkling eyes...

Casey thought. Argh Casey, you should ban Derek from your head!

„Let´s go!" she said and waved goodbye to her step-brother. „Yeah have fun you two. And thanks again Casey!" the door closed and Derek was alone now. He told Sally to come over at 6.15 pm.

„Just enough time to make the sweetest dessert ever!"

6.02pm.

Max let Casey sat down on her chair first and then did the same thing.

It was just how Casey had imagined it. The restaurant was small but really nice decorated. It was very romantic. They had candles and italian music playing. Wonderful. She thought. I hope Sally likes the food and Derek does not mess it up again! She shook her head. Romantic dinner with Max, Casey. Focus! She reminded herself.

6.15pm.

Derek was sitting at the table, staring at the clock. She should be here in a moment.

6.17pm.

„Did you already choose?" the waiter asked and Casey gave him a smile. „Just a moment please!" she said flipping through the menu. „Did you found something?" Max didn´t react. „Max?" she tried it again but he was focused on his watch. „Max!" Casey asked, this time way louder.

„What?" he startled up. „I asked you if you already found something?!" he shook his head. „You didn´t even looked at the menu! What´s the matter?

6.20pm.

Where is she? Derek got even more nervous with every minute Sally was late. „Maybe she needs to work longer or something." he tried to calm himself.

6.30pm.

„Nothing, really." Casey didn´t believed him. There was something wrong, she could feel it!

„Max, I´m your girlfriend. You can tell me!" she hesitated. „No, nothing." now she was getting angry. „Don´t lie to me. That´s one of the things I really can´t stand!" Max seemed to fight with himself. „But don´t be mad with me, ok? I´ll stay here." Stay here? What does that mean?

„Look, I totally forgot about the football game tonight. We have a really hard opponent. But it´s ok. I promised you a dinner here so I´ll stay!" Casey raised and eyebrow. Really great. This evening wouldn´t be fun at all. Even if he stayed.

„When does the game start?" she asked and Max looked at her. „At 7pm, why?" she stood up. „Then you better go. I don´t wanna be the reason why our school loses!" her boyfriend was confused. „No Casey, it´s ok!" she shook her head. „No Max. For me it´s ok. Just drive me home and win the game for me. We can do that another time!" he smiled at her. „Casey, you´re the best!"

6.30pm.

Derek was still waiting.

6.35pm. Suddenly his cellphone was ringing.

„Sally?" he asked immeadeatly. „Yeah it´s me. Look Derek I´m terribly sorry! But one of my colleagues got sick and it need to work for him! Can we postpone our date?" Derek nodded, not aware that Sally couldn´t see that.

„Derek?" she asked carfully. „What? Yeah sure, don´t worry honey. It´s ok!" „Thanks, that´s so nice of you! And I think it´s cute that you called me honey! I love you!" then she hung up the phone. 6.40pm.

Casey was standing in front of her own house and didn´t know whether to go in or not. She knew that she had to, but she didn´t wanted to ruin Derek´s and Sally´s date.

Rubbish! Just sneak in, they won´t even realize you! She opened the door and walked on her tiptoes towards the stairs as she saw Derek sitting in front of the TV.

„What are you doing there?" she asked outraged. „Did you messed it up?"

Derek startled up. „Hell Casey, don´t you scare me like that!" he got up from his chair. „And no, I didn´t messed it up. Sally had to work longer. She couldn´t come." she saw the disappointment in his face. „And what about your date?" she took of her jacket and sighed. „He has a footballgame." „What? And that´s more important then his girlfriend?"

Casey shook her head. „No, I told him to go. He wasn´t really into the date. I said we could do it another time." now it was Derek who shook his head. „Why did he set up a date when he knew there was a game?" she shrugged her shoulders. „He just forgot about it."

Looking closer at Derek, Casey noticed that he looked different. He had combed his hair and he was wearing an elgeant shirt which he had worn on the wedding too. „You look great!" she said and he smiled. „You too." didn´t he said that to her before this evening?

Derek glanced over to the table. „Are you hungry?" he asked. „Of course. We didn´t make it to the dinner part." Casey answered a bit ironic. „We can heat up the food. It would be too bad to waste it!"

10 minutes later they sat at the table, eating the food Casey had cooked.

„If anyone asks me later on I will deny that I said this, but Casey: This is more then delicious!" she rolled her eyes but then smiled. „DE-REK! Thanks." he smirked. Casey couldn´t help herself, but she loved it when he does that.

„Now I have a surprise for you!" Derek got up from the chair and Casey gave him a questioning look. „Surprise?" she asked, but he had already disappeared into the kitchen. Before she could follow he was back with a big bowl of something. „What´s that?" she leaned forward.

„Derek´s one and only special dessert!" he announced, smirking again.

„It´s mousse au chocolat. I made it as a dessert for Sally. But since she isn´t coming I think we should eat it!" he took a spoon with a bit of the dessert and held it over to Casey. „Open your mouth!" that nearly sounded tempting, she hesitated. „Come on, someone needs to tell me how it is!"

She finally opened her mouth and tasted the mousse. „Wow." she managed to say.

„Derek where did you learned to do that? That´s delicious!"

She likes it! Why does that make me so happy?

„Or did you ordered that somewhere?" she asked critically.

„That was too much McDonald!" he said with an evil grin and suddely the mousse was flying towards Casey. She managed to get out of the way this time before the delicious dessert hit her dress or even her face.

„Just you wait!" Casey got a spoon and threw the mousse on Derek herself.

„Don´t you dare to do that again!" he said, trying to sound threatening but it didn´t really worked.

They were both up from their chairs now, cyrcling around the table.

„What if?" Casey asked daring.

Suddenly Derek started running and Casey did too. They were chasing each other around the dinner table.

When Derek reached her, he grabbed Casey´s arm but instead of just stopping her they lost balance and fell down to the floor. Derek landed on top of Casey, staring right into her eyes.

For a moment, there was just silence.

„Y...your eyes are really sparkling." he said under his breath. „A...and yours are beautifully brown, just like chocolate." she answered.

It took a moment for them to realize what was happening.

Get the hell off of your step-sister, Derek!

But he couldn´t move.

Casey McDonald, push your step-brother away, now!

But she couldn´t move as well.

Suddenly the door opened. „What the heck are you doing there?" a familiar voice asked.

Casey and Derek turned their faces towards the voice´s direction just to find Sally and Max standing in the door, looking very surprised.

So far for now, i hope you liked this chapter. It took me really long to write!
I´d love to read your reviews, they always make me happy! =)