I'm back! Sorry it was so long. Been super busy! This story is almost finished... but not quite yet...
I know some of you don't like the chapters with Alter-Derek and Casey but they're necessary for the story, so here is another chapter. It's a long one. I have no idea if it's good or not... so let me know what you thought.
Thanks again for all the Awesome reviews!
Chapter 8
Evil Jerk
"Uh... Casey... You do realize that your shirt says loser on the back, right?" Emily Davis asked her friend when she sat down behind her in English class.
Casey spun around in her desk and Emily gasped at the sight before her. Casey's hair was dripping wet and still revealing bits of purple dye, her face was make-up free, and she looked like she was about to go insane, or already had.
"Yes," Casey snapped venomously, "I am aware of what is printed on the back of my shirt, along with every other t-shirt, sweater, and dress I own!"
Emily's eyes widened, "What happened?"
Casey's eyes were enflamed as she spoke the words Emily was already expecting to come out of her mouth, "Derek happened!"
"You mean he's back to normal?" Emily let out a sigh of relief. "I was getting a little worried about his behaviour yesterday."
"Define normal, Em," Casey snarled with a roll of the eyes, "because he is not normal!"
"Casey..." Emily tried to reassure her friend but Casey only glared back at her.
"Derek has done nothing but prank me all morning! I woke up to my alarm set at 3AM and couldn't figure out how to turn it off because he broke the off button, then he put honey in my slippers, mustard in my toothpaste; he stole all of my shirts and wrote Loser in Big bolded letters, ruined all of my make-up, and then he took the car to school without giving me a ride, forcing me to walk in the rain!"
"He did all of that in one morning?"
"Oh, there's more!" Casey scowled as she continued her rant. "When I got to school and opened my locker, all of my text books were glued together! I had to go to the office and beg them to exchange them for new ones! The receptionist told me I'd have to pay a fee for the ones that I'd ruined, so I had to give her the fifty dollars I was saving to buy that new novel series I've been wanting!"
"Oh, Case," Emily gasped with her hand to her mouth. She felt terrible for Casey and she couldn't understand why Derek would do that to her. Yeah, he enjoyed pranking his stepsister on occasion but he'd never actually do something so... evil. And she should know; Emily had been studying Derek since they were kids. This behaviour did not match up with her Derek research at all.
"I just..." Casey let out a sigh as a tear fell down her cheek. "I don't understand why he's doing this... What did I do?"
Before Emily could offer some encouraging words to her distraught friend, their teacher entered the classroom and demanded that everyone face forward and begin working on chapter 19 in their study novels.
Casey frowned as she slowly turned back around in her seat and opened up her book, wiping away the tears still falling down her face.
% % %
Alter-Derek was on cloud-nine right now. He'd been having one of the best days of his life. Being known as the most popular guy in school definitely had its advantages. Girls were falling all over him, left and right; guys were high-fiving him and slapping him on the back; he didn't have to worry about getting good grades, or being called a loser and a freak everywhere he went. And to top it all off, he was finally getting even with his stepsister.
"I could get used to this life." Alter-Derek grinned as he sat back in his chair in the cafeteria during lunch time at the table surrounded by his "friends".
"Yo, D," Sam spoke from across the table, "you missed a hardcore practise yesterday and the coach was furious. Where'd you run off to?"
"I... uh... wasn't feeling so great."
"But even when you're sick, you still attend practise." Sam pointed out.
"Yeah," Ralph added from beside Sam, "like that one time you threw up all over the ice and the coach had to force you to go home," he laughed at the memory. "Ah, good times indeed."
Alter-Derek shook his head with disgust at the mental image as he addressed his "best friend", "I missed one practise," he shrugged, "what's the big deal?"
Sam and Ralph both gasped at his words and exchanged worried glances with each other.
"Are you still sick?" Sam asked, leaning forward to stare into Alter-Derek's eyes.
"Dude, maybe his brain has been switched and this isn't Derek we're talking to." Ralph observed as he stared at Alter-Derek with suspicious eyes.
How ironic. That idiot almost has it figured out. Alter-Derek thought. Now what do I do? They're not buying the sick story... The Derek from this world must really be crazy about hockey. I guess his hockey is like my academics...
Alter-Derek was about to open his mouth with another excuse when he heard a deathly shriek come from behind him that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand to attention.
"DER-EK!"
"Dude, what did you do?" Ralph smirked as he and Sam stared at the figure standing behind him with horrified eyes.
Alter-Derek slowly stood up and turned around to come face-to-face with Casey McDonald, his Alternate Stepsister. He'd been trying to avoid her all day and he was shocked that she would confront him like this, especially in a cafeteria full of high school students silently watching the scene unfold before them.
No matter how many times Casey pranked me in my world, I could never stand up to her like this, especially in front of all these people.
"Um... Hey, Casey..." Alter-Derek spoke up, averting her fiery gaze. "How's it going?"
Casey only stood there glaring at him with her hands clenched at her sides. When Derek finally looked up at her face he noticed that she'd been crying and it suddenly felt like he'd been punched in the gut when he realized how much pain he'd caused her today.
Don't feel sorry for her! She deserves it! He told himself, but when he looked into her misted blue eyes full of hurt, he knew that this Casey was nothing like the other Casey and that she didn't deserve all the evil things he'd done to her all day.
"Casey, let me speak to him." A familiar voice spoke up and Alter-Derek watched as Emily Davis stepped forward, grabbed him forcefully by the arm and dragged him out of the cafeteria without so much as a single hello to him.
Emily finally let go of Alter-Derek once they were outside in a secluded hallway and she glared at him, "What is your problem, Derek?"
"Um... you're the one that just dragged me out here." He stated, rubbing the sore spot on his arm from where she'd gripped him.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Emily raised her voice at him. "Casey has been crying all morning because of you! You've pulled pranks on her before, Derek, but not this much and not this bad!"
Alter-Derek stared at the girl before him in confusion. Back in his world Emily was one of his friends... now it seemed she was Casey's friend, considering the fact that she was yelling at Derek on Casey's behalf.
"Look, Emily, I don't expect you to understand my reasons, but I do realize now that what I did was wrong." Alter-Derek tried to explain.
"What reasons?" Casey asked as she entered the hall and stood beside her friend with a frown. "What reasons do you have for ruining my clothes, my make-up, my text books..."Casey paused as she stared into his eyes, "and my respect for you?"
Derek rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke, "I... I can't explain, Casey... but I really am sorry. I was angry and looking for revenge and I took it out on the wrong person."
"What are you talking about?" She shook her head in confusion.
"I..."
DING!
Suddenly the school bell went off and students began piling into the hallway to get to their next class.
"Derek, tell me what's wrong." Casey raised her voice over the noise as she grabbed her stepbrother's arm.
Alter-Derek glanced around the hall and then looked back at her with a shake of his head, "I can't talk about it, Casey."
"Why not?"
He let out a sigh as he looked down at her hand on his arm, "Because I don't want this to change."
Casey removed her hand and stared at him with a raised brow, "What are you talking about?"
Alter-Derek didn't reply as he took one last remorseful look at her and then took off down the hall before she could stop him.
"I wish he would quit taking off like that!" Casey ground through clenched teeth as she watched him disappear around a corner.
% % %
"Venturi, get your act together!" The gym teacher, Mr. Steinbower, shouted as Alter-Derek stumbled, while playing basketball, and dropped the ball, letting the other team take it and score.
"Sorry," He apologized to his teammates who were glaring at him and muttering curses under their breaths.
I hate sports! Alter-Derek grumbled to himself.
"Dude, you're acting like you've never played b-ball in your life." Sam spoke as he approached him with a wary brow. "What's up with you today?"
"Nothing," Alter-Derek shrugged. "I guess I'm just off my game."
"Well you better get back on your game before hockey practise after school."
Alter-Derek cursed under his breath. He had no idea how to play hockey, let alone skate on ice. How am I going to get out of it this time? There's no way I can go and pretend to have the skills that the other Derek has when I've never played the game in my life.
"Coach will kill you if you're not there today, D, so you better show up, sick or not." Sam reminded him before running up ahead, stealing the ball from the opposing team and shooting it in the net.
% % %
Casey waited by Derek's locker after school for him to show up because she needed to talk to him. He had ten minutes before practise started; enough time to have a quick chat. She was beyond perplexed by his behaviour today. First he was constantly pranking her and then he was apologising to her and telling her he was actually sorry, which was a word not usually used in her stepbrother's vocabulary, especially in reference to her.
I knew something was going on... Casey thought as she leaned up against the locker with her books in her arms. I just wish I knew what exactly... All I know is that Derek has not been himself since yesterday morning and I doubt this has all been a prank like he tried to convince me it was. He may be the king of lies, but he doesn't fool me. I've known him too long not to notice when something isn't right.
Casey's gaze fell on the shaggy haired young man just as he noticed her and abruptly changed his course of direction, attempting to avoid the conversation she intended to have with him.
"Derek!" Casey shouted as she bolted after him just as he turned a corner.
Casey immediately caught up to her stepbrother, grabbing him by the back of his shirt and forcing him around to face her.
"Casey, I'm going to be late for practise." Derek complained as he tried to break free from her hold.
"You still have ten minutes," Casey glared at him, "so you and I are going to have a little chat until then."
Derek stared into her fierce eyes and then let out a sigh, "Fine. I'll tell you what you want to know, but it's going to take more than ten minutes..."
"What is?"
"The truth."
Casey raised a questioning brow at him as she folded her arms across her chest and waited for him to go on.
"Look, maybe we should take this discussion to a more secluded area." Derek suggested.
Casey glanced around at the few students watching the duo with interest and nodded her head, "Where?"
"The Prince is parked outside. Let's just go there." Derek said as he began to walk towards the exit.
Casey grabbed his arm, "Wait, Derek, what about hockey practise?"
Derek stared at her hand on his arm and then back up at her, "This is more important."
Did Derek just say talking with me was more important than going to hockey practise? Casey gasped inwardly as she watched her stepbrother begin to make his way down the hall again. Something is definitely not okay. She thought as she followed behind.
Once they were both seated inside the Prince, Derek in the driver's seat and Casey in the passenger seat, Derek let out a deep breath and turned to look at her.
"You know how I haven't been acting like myself the last two days...?" Derek began hesitantly as he stared down at his fidgeting hands.
Casey nodded, "Yes, and you said it was a prank, even though I know it wasn't."
Derek's eyes widened as he glanced up at her, "Then what do you think it is?"
"Well... I..." Casey thought for a moment and then let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know. But you have been acting very unlike you lately and I know when something is wrong with you, Derek, which worries me more than you know."
"So... you really have been worried about me?"
"Yes, you idiot! You've been acting like a mental patient! Of course I've been worried!" Casey raised her voice.
Derek was silent for a moment as he gazed out the front windshield.
"What if I told you that I... I wasn't your stepbrother?"
"What?" Casey gave him a get serious look. "Derek, our parents are married, of course you're my stepbrother."
Derek ran a hand through his hair as he turned to face her once again, "Have you ever heard about alternate realities?"
Casey's face scrunched up in confusion, "Yeah sure, but what does that have to do with..."
"I'm Derek from an alternate reality." Derek deadpanned.
"Huh?"
"Yesterday morning, I somehow woke up in this world. I have no idea how it happened but one minute I was at home in my reality where you hated my guts and lived to destroy my life, and the next I'm not... and you were all caring and concerned for me..."
"Derek..."
"I know this sounds insane, Casey, but it's the truth. I'm not the Derek from this world."
Casey stared at him, not sure how to respond to what he was saying.
I bet this is just another stupid prank! Casey frowned at the thought. Even though he does seem really sincere... But an Alternate Reality? That's preposterous!
Derek -or Alternate Derek- continued to speak as Casey argued with the idea still processing through her head. "When I finally figured it out, that I was from an alternate reality, I was scared, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn't care. I like it here, Casey. I like the you here."
"I... I'm sorry?" Casey blinked a few times, trying to establish what the Alternate Derek just admitted to her.
Alternate Derek grabbed her hand and gazed into her eyes, "In my world, you live to ruin my life at every chance you get. You prank me, pick on me, call me names..."
Casey pulled her hand out of his and she cut him off, "And that's how you... or Derek is with me... What's your point?"
"It's not the same though. You genuinely care about the Derek here, even though he does all that to you, but in my world I hate my stepsister. I can't stand being around her and being tortured at school and in my own home."
Casey could see the pain behind Alternate Derek's words and felt sorry for him. Maybe she didn't have it so bad with her Derek after all. A thought then occurred to her as her eyes widened.
"If you are who you say you are and you're from an alternate reality, then where is my... erm... the Derek from this reality?"
Alternate Derek shrugged, "Honestly, I hadn't really given it much thought."
"Well give it thought now!" Casey raised her voice as she began to think about where Derek could be.
"Maybe we switched places." Alternate Derek suggested.
"You mean, he could be in your reality right now?"
"It's a possibility." He shrugged nonchalantly. "And if he is, then I wish him luck."
Casey suddenly grabbed her alternate stepbrother by the shoulders and forced him to look into her anxious eyes, "You need to switch back!"
Alternate Derek's face recoiled at the thought as he pulled away from her grasp with a frown, "No way!"
"Why not?"
"Because, don't you get it? I like it here! I'm popular, I have more than two friends, girls beg to go out with me, and you're nice to me. Why would I ever want to go back?"
"Because you don't belong here." Casey glowered.
Alternate Derek turned to glare at her, "Yes I do. Maybe Derek and I switched places for a reason? Think about it, Casey; now you don't have to put up with all the nonsense he's caused. He and the other Casey have more in common and you and I have more in common. It was meant to be this way."
Casey scowled at him, "You've caused more nonsense this morning than my Derek ever had! You ruined everything of mine!"
Alternate Derek backed up against his door with his hands raised in surrender, "I really am sorry about that, Casey. But now you can understand why I did all those things."
"How?" Casey spat venomously.
"I wanted revenge on the Casey from my world, and I thought since you look like her, that it would make me feel better to prank you. I realized later how wrong I'd been and that you're nothing like her and you didn't deserve anything I'd done to you. I empathized with you, Casey, because I knew how you felt."
"Yeah, well you better use your empathy to pay for all the damage you caused. You owe me more than two hundred dollars."
"I promise I'll pay you back. Just please don't hate me? I like having a stepsister that actually cares about me."
Casey didn't know how to respond to that. One part of her felt sorry for the alternate Derek but another part of her couldn't stand him.
He isn't Derek.
"I need to get some air." Casey said as she opened the passenger side door and began to get out of the car.
"Where are you going?" Alternate Derek asked as he grabbed her by the arm.
"This is all too much for me right now." Casey spoke as she turned to look at him. "I'm going to walk home. I need to think."
Alternate Derek let go of her arm as she stepped out of the car and closed the door.
"I'll see you later then?" He asked as he rolled down the window.
Casey nodded with a forced smile and waved goodbye as she began the long walk home.
% % %
After Casey had arrived home from her walk, she'd immediately gone upstairs to her room and closed the door; needing to avoid Alternate Derek at all costs. She didn't know how to confront him about how she felt.
During the walk, Casey realized how much she really missed Derek and how much she wanted him back. Yeah, he enjoyed tormenting her on a regular basis, but that was just Derek, and he'd never actually done anything to emotionally scar her or ruin her belongings the way the other Derek had done that day. She understood why the alternate Derek had done those things but he still had no right to think he could be her Derek and get away with it.
Ugh! Why do I keep referring to him as MY Derek? Casey let out a groan. He's not mine!
To be honest, it wasn't even the pranks that had hurt Casey so much that day, it was the fact that Derek had done them to her, or who she thought was Derek. She couldn't understand why he would do all those nasty things to her and it was killing her inside trying to figure it out.
At least now I know it wasn't really Derek who had wanted to hurt me.
A tear fell from Casey's eye as she walked along the street. She'd always wanted a life without Derek, but now that Derek was gone, she wanted him back. No, she needed him back.
But how do I get him back? The other Derek doesn't want to leave.
She couldn't even imagine what Derek was going through right now.
If he is in the alternate world, does he prefer it there as well? Maybe he likes the fact that I'm more like him there...? Maybe he doesn't want to return either and I'm stuck with the alternate Derek forever? Casey's eyes widened in horror at the thought.
Maybe it won't be such a bad thing... This Derek is smarter, healthier, kinder (minus the revenge pranks)... Casey shook her head as more tears began to fall. But he's not Derek.
Now as Casey sat down on her bed and let her head fall into her hands, she didn't know what to do. She couldn't go on living with someone who looked like Derek but wasn't Derek. And what about the family? They were bound to figure out the differences soon... Right? Unless Alternate Derek was a really good actor and could pull off being their Derek. Casey scoffed at that thought. No one can pretend to be Derek. He's original and unique and... I want him back.
% % %
"Dinner!"
Casey was woken up by the sound of George yelling up the stairs and realized she'd fallen asleep while worrying about the Derek issue.
"Hey, Case, are you coming down for supper? Mom made spaghetti and meatballs." Lizzie said as she peeked inside her elder sister's bedroom.
Casey sighed. She could feel the rumble of hunger in her stomach but she didn't want to face Alternate Derek. How was she supposed to tell him that she didn't want him to stay?
"Um... I'll be down in a minute, Liz. Thanks." Casey spoke as she sat up in bed and swung her legs over the edge.
"Ok but don't take too long. You know how impatient Derek gets about eating a meal." Lizzie chuckled as she closed the door behind her and made her way downstairs.
If only he was the real Derek... Casey thought with a frown.
After fixing her bed-headed hair, Casey began her decent down the stairs and took her usual seat at the dining room table. She could feel Alternate Derek's eyes on her but she couldn't force herself to return the gaze.
"Casey, it's nice to see you awake. Were you just tired or not feeling well after school?" Nora asked from Casey's right as she scooped some pasta onto a plate for Marti and passed it down the table.
"Mmm!" The nine-year-old exclaimed as she received her dinner and began to dig in with a smile on her face.
"I... was just a little tired." Casey replied, staring down at her empty plate.
"Guess who failed their math exam today?" Edwin changed the subject with a mischievous grin directed at his younger stepsister.
"Edwin!" Lizzie growled as she kicked him under the table.
"Ow!" Edwin cried, reaching down to rub his now bruised shin.
"Lizzie, you failed your math exam?" Nora turned to her daughter with a dissatisfied frown.
Lizzie blushed, avoiding eye contact, "Yes. I don't know what happened... I guess I didn't study hard enough."
Edwin snorted, "I'd say you studied plenty, especially on the subject of Marvin." He teased while stuffing a fork full of pasta into his mouth.
Lizzie's eyes widened with surprise as her cheeks turned an even darker shade of red.
"Who's Marvin?" Marti smirked with a glint in her eye.
"He's..." Edwin began but Lizzie cut him off with a fierce glare. "He's no one and Edwin needs to learn to mind his own business."
"Well, whoever this Marvin is," Nora spoke up as she looked at her youngest daughter, "try not to let him distract you from your real studies, ok sweetie?"
Lizzie nodded her head, "Sorry, Mom. It won't happen again."
"Speaking of school..." Said George as he glowered at Alternate Derek. "I got another call today from your hockey coach, informing me that you missed practise, again."
Casey watched as Alternate Derek kept his eyes on his plate, poking a meatball with his fork.
"What girl were you with this time, Derek?" George asked sternly.
Alternate Derek let out a sigh as he dropped his fork, making it clink on the side of the plate and looked up at his alternate father.
"I wasn't with a girl. To be honest, I'm just not that into hockey anymore, so I've decided to quit the team."
Everyone's jaws dropped and Edwin let out a gasp.
"What?"
"You're not serious!"
"Is this a prank?"
The three younger siblings spoke at once.
Alternate Derek shook his head, "This is not a prank and I am serious. In fact, I'm going to talk to the coach tomorrow."
Casey couldn't believe what she was hearing. He can't do that! He has no right! Derek has to play hockey, that's who Derek is!
"But, Derek, hockey is your life." Edwin pointed out, looking like he was about to cry from the shock.
"Not anymore. I've decided I need to focus more on my studies and build up my grades. What kind of career choice is hockey anyway?" He snorted.
"It was yours and you were fine with it."
George finally cleared his throat, realizing he should say something, "Look, Derek, why don't you take the weekend to really think about your decision before fully making up your mind."
"But I have made up my mind. I'm through with hockey and that's that."
Casey glared across the table at her alternate stepbrother and decided to speak up, "Can I have a word with you, Derek?" She ground out through clenched teeth as she stood up and grabbed him by the arm, forcing him to stand as well.
"I haven't finished my meal yet." Alternate Derek protested.
"You can finish it later." Casey snapped as she shoved him towards the stairs. "I need to talk with you, now."
"Good, Casey might be able to talk some sense into him." Casey heard Edwin whisper to his family as she and Alternate Derek made their way up the stairs.
Once they were inside Derek's room with the door closed, Casey spun towards the alternate version of Derek and shouted, "What are you doing?"
Alter-Derek shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm quitting hockey. There's no way I can pull off being Derek when I can't even play the sport. People will get suspicious."
"And having Derek give up on his dreams won't make people suspicious?" Casey raised a brow as she folded her arms across her chest. "Everyone knows that besides girls and family, hockey is number one in Derek's life. He would never give it up like that."
"Well he's going to have to if I'm him."
"What gives you the right to think you can be him?" Casey scowled. "You can't be Derek and you never will be Derek."
"I can be the new and improved Derek."
"No one wants a new and improved Derek. We just want Derek, for who he is."
"Even you? Especially after everything he's done to you over the years?"
Casey nodded, "Yes. I don't care if Derek tends to ruin my life with his obnoxious pranks and ridicules; I want him back. I need him back."
Alter-Derek's eyes widened at the realization of something, "Do you have feelings for Derek?"
Casey immediately shook her head, "No, of course not!"
"Then why do you care about him so much?"
"Because... I just do..."
"Because you like him more than a stepbrother." Alter-Derek grinned.
"I... I don't..."
Do I? Casey thought to herself. I guess I've never really seen Derek as an actual brother... but... could I really have romantic feelings towards him?
Alternate Derek suddenly grabbed her by the arms, forcing her to look into his eyes, "I could be that Derek for you. You don't need him anymore."
"What?"
"I like you, Casey, and if you like Derek, then I'll be Derek."
"But you're not Derek." Casey shook her head.
"I can learn to be." He smiled excitedly. "And then we can be together and I won't have to return to my reality."
"But..."
"Think about it, Casey, even if you did get the other Derek back, do you really think he'd feel the same way about you as you do with him? You guys are nothing alike. At least with me the feelings are reciprocal."
Casey shook her head as she pulled out of his grasp, "No! Derek would never use that word and you are not Derek! I don't care if he doesn't feel the same way, as long as he's back in this world, I'm happy."
Whoa! Did I just admit that I do like Derek in that way?
Alter-Derek's face turned red with anger as he backed her against the door, "Don't you get it, Casey? Your Derek isn't coming back. I'm here to stay, so you better get used to it."
"You don't belong here." Casey glared into his eyes with rage. "You never will, and you're right, I do like Derek more than a stepbrother, and I will find a way to return him home."
"We'll see about that." Alternate Derek grinned as he stepped away from her, allowing her space to leave the room and close the door behind her.
What an evil jerk!
% % %
Later that night, as Casey was getting ready for bed she could feel her eyes beginning to mist over with tears. She'd just admitted that she likes Derek, not only to Alternate Derek but to herself as well. Why hadn't I realized this before? She thought as she changed into a pink tank top and blue pyjama pants. And why did it take him not being here to realize it?
Can I really find a way to get him back?
Casey stared at her melancholy reflection in the mirror and grabbed a strand of faded purple hair. The color really didn't look that bad in her hair and it was only a stupid joke. How was Derek supposed to know it wouldn't wash out right away?
Casey let out a sigh. I miss you, Derek.
"Aahh!"
Casey's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a cry of pain from the room next door. It sounded like Alter-Derek was hurting. Even though Casey could really care less about her alternate stepbrother, she needed to now what was going on, so she raced out of her bedroom and into Derek's to see Alter-Derek on the floor, clutching his head and groaning in agony.
"What's going on?" Casey gasped as she watched his figure suddenly fade away and in it's a place another figure that looked just like him but in different clothing appeared.
"Derek?"
Is Derek back for good? Hmm... I guess you'll have to read the next chapter and find out... Hopefully it'll be updated ASAP.
Thanks for Reading and please Review, it would mean a lot and I really enjoy getting feedback. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. And just like the saying: The more Reviews = me updating faster.
