Yeah, I thought that the last chapter wasn't really good, but you readers still liked it and even reviewed! Thank you a lot : and hopefully this chapter will be better than the last. I am super sorry I didn't update!! I had writers block and it took extremely long for me to get over it, but I think I did, for now. Here is the new chapter (it's a little boring in the beginning though). Also this chapter is dedicated to wprincessannw (who's name is ann, I assume, based on the username, sorry if I got your name wrong!) I hope you guys like this chapter :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Life with Derek or its characters.

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I stood up and headed toward him. He watched me with careful eyes. I leaned into his chest, and before I could put my arms around him, his arms instantly wrapped around me. We stayed like that for about 4 minutes, with my arms and head pressed into his chest, his chin on the top of my head. He held me tight as if this was the last time we were going to be like this.

I woke up with a refreshed feeling. Derek truly cared for me, I think, and I was satisfied with that, even though he may not like me as much as I liked him, he liked me nonetheless. Derek also got into the bathroom first, so when I entered it, I took a long deep breath, not feeling as much of a dork as before. It was weird how when I first moved in, Derek was usually the cause of my unhappiness (because all the pranks and the pain of a crush) but now, he was the reason why I felt so...so…happy. Happy doesn't really describe it but it will make due now.

After I finished getting ready for school, I ran down the stairs to find Derek and Marti playing around in the kitchen. I approached the two slowly, slightly embarrassed about our encounter last night, although, now that I think about it, he should be the one embarrassed, not me. He is the one who admitted that he was the one that wanted hugs. When I came into the kitchen, Marti ran to me and hugged my legs.

"I beat Derek at thumb wars!" she told me.

"Oh, really?" I replied, raising my eyebrow at him.

"Hey, I let Marti beat me," he proclaimed.

"Right…." I said sarcastically.

"Marti, go get your backpack and lunch and let's roll," Derek ordered.

Marti nodded and then let go off my legs and grabbed a pink lunch box from the kitchen and ran upstairs for her backpack. Derek then flashed a smile and walked up close to me.

"Hey, Case," he greeted me.

"Hey, Derek," I showed him a nervous smile.

We stood close together for a few seconds and then I interrupted the silence with "So you packed Marti lunch?"

"Yup, I also made lunch for you too," He said as he walked toward the table and threw a brown paper bag at me.

"For me?" I asked.

"Yeah, you're always complaining about the school food, so I made you a little something something."

"It's a…sandwich," I said as I opened the bag.

"Yeah, that's the only thing I know how to make besides cereal," he told me, as he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck.

"Well, thanks. That was weirdly nice for you."

"I have my moments," he flashed another smile at me.

"So you have a sandwich too?" I asked, not knowing what else to say.

"Oh, I was just planning of going halfsies with Ralph's lunch," he told me, "His mom always packs him so much stuff, its like she thinks that he's Godzilla."

"Well, that's better than being a Klutzilla."

"Well, its not so bad, as long as there's somebody to catch you when you fall."

He walked up close to me and whispered in my ear, "Preferably me." Before I could say anything, Marti came down the stairs, eager to go. Derek then rushed to the door and opened the door for her.

"My lady," he bowed as he let Marti pass through the door.

I tried to go out while Derek had the door open, but then he closed it before I could.

"Ah, ah, ah," He said, "Not so fast, Case."

"Come on, Derek, You couldn't just hold the door open for a few more seconds?" I asked.

All he did was smirk at me.

"Do you want me to open the door for you?" I asked him, trying to read his expression.

Then it was clear what he wanted. He opened his arms, wanting a hug. I rolled my eyes, trying to conceal my excitement. Then I put my arms around him and I felt him tense up, so I let go. To my astonishment, he pulled me into his arms again and squeezed me tight for a few more seconds.

"Lets go," he stated.

I opened the door (he wouldn't do it for me becuase apparently he wanted fo rme to get over being a "princess") and he followed.

--

"And then, he looked back at me!" Emily said excitedly.

"Hmm?" I asked, as I was in a daze.

"Case, what's up with you? You've been out of it all day," Emily said, before she took a bite out of the pasta she brought.

"Oh, I guess I've just been caught up with school stuff," I told her.

I saw Noel glancing at me across the table, not believing what I said.

"School stuff?" he asked doubtingly.

"Yes, school stuff," I tried to assure him.

"Whatever," He muttered as he dug into his mash potatoes with his fork.

I knew Noel suspected something between me and Derek but luckily, he didn't say anything about it to anyone else.

"Well, I think you're thinking about a boy," Emily said.

"What? no, nope, no boy at all," I replied, noticing Noel's ears perk up.

"Come on, tell us who it is," she nudged my shoulder.

Before I could answer, Derek came out of nowhere and preceded to our table.

"Hey, sup?" he asked as he slung his body onto the seat next to me.

I could see Noel staring daggers at him.

"Well, Anthony Wilkens is totally into me! During Mr.Walken's lecture, he looked back at me, which means that he had to turn his body half way to meet my eye which means that he would rather be inconvenienced and look at me than be comfortable not looking at me!" Emily stated rather fast.

"Well, that's….," Derek started to say, "good?"

"And Casey has a crush on someone," she added.

"Really?" Derek asked with amusement looking at me, "Who?"

"I don't think its any of your business," Noel said angrily at him.

"Well, I think it is since she is my stepsister," Derek fired back, wrapping his arm around me possessively.

"And only your stepsister, Derek."

"That's what you think," Derek muttered at him.

I widened my eyes and looked nervously over at Emily, and was relieved when I saw that she was too intrigued have eye smex with Anthony to notice the feud going on at her own table.

"Well isn't this fun," I said as I stood up, trying to end the little argument, "But I think I gotta get going now."

I ran (well, fast walked) out of the cafeteria fast. That situation was way too awkward. Before I knew it, I was out in the again empty hallway walking. My stomach started to rumble. I forgot to eat my lunch, I thought. I was too preoccupied with my thoughts of Derek to eat. I dug through my backpack before I found the sandwich Derek had made me. When I took the meal out of the paper bag, my stomach started to growl louder as I saw the perfect big turkey sandwich. I smiled when I thought about how Derek made it for me, not for himself. I sat down one under the staircase as I unwrapped the plastic wrap. I heard a "Case." I looked to the right of me, and saw Derek walking toward me nervously, hands in pockets. Usually he strode in confidence.

"Hey," he said as he sat down next to me.

"You've already said hey to me two times today. You need new material."

"Hi?"

"That's…improvement."

"So whatcha eating?" he asked me as he eyed my sandwich.

"You should know, you're the one that made it for me," I told him.

"Oh yeah, so its turkey?"

"And we have a winner."

"Well enjoy it ok?" he siad as he laughed, "I made it especially for you."

I nodded but then stopped as I heard Derek's stomach growl.

"Didn't you eat yet?" I asked.

"Oh, well, Ralph is on this new diet with tofu and healthy green junk. Its gross."

"Oh, so you wanna go halfsies then?" I offered him.

He half-smiled at me and replied with a "Sure." I tried to rip the sandwich in half, but it didn't work out as I planned. I just ended up getting my hands to smell like turkey.

"Why don't you eat one half of the sandwich first, then give the rest to me?" He advised.

"But then, you'll get my germs," I said and I saw that he rolled his eyes.

"Its no big deal," he assured me, "it would be like indirectly kissing you."

I blushed at that; thinking about Derek kissing me always made me do that.

"No, that would be like me giving you leftovers. Can I see that Swiss army knife that George gave you."

He dug through his pocket until he found it and handed it over to me. I opened every utensil, there was scissors and a corkscrew and, aha, finally found the knife. I cut the sandwich using it, then picked up one half and gave it to Derek.

"Now you got my knife all greasy…." he whined.

"Fine," I sighed and I wiped the knife with the paper bag, "There."

We sat there eating our sandwiches in silence. After I surprisingly finished my half before him (I gave him the bigger half), Derek put his arm around me and pushed me closer to him. I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt him kiss the top of my head. Even though the grease that was on his lips from the turkey was probably in my hair now, I strangely didn't mind. I just liked being there with him, with his arm around me.

--

Aha! Some dasey fluff again. I was trying to pull ideas out from the air, I still have a little writers block. Next chapter will have drama. It will move the story along and further the plot. I mean, I can't just keep writing Dasey fluff every chapter, no matter how much I want to. Sorry that this chapter was really short! I'll try to write longer next time. So review review! If you review, then I will keep writing and it will pick away at the big giant block in my writer mind. :)