Disclaimer: I don't own it.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Okay to clarify a few things…Lizzie was about to tell the adults at the table that Casey and Derek hated each other, that they weren't friends. Casey gave her a 'shut up' look because she didn't want Abby and George to know that. Edwin just thought that they liked each other because all he saw was them standing so close together. Does that make sense? I hope so. lol.

Another thing is Derek's POV about the whole couple thing. The only things that I could come up with at the time would make him seem a little 'un' Derek! So I didn't want to go OOC. I figured it would be better to just ignore that for the moment. But you're getting it in this chapter.

There's going to be a little Dasey in this chapter but not much. Hopefully I can keep them IC. We'll see.

Alright after the longest author's note from me so far, here's the story.

Jenna

Chapter 11

Derek's POV

After dinner, Casey left and I went upstairs to my room. I wanted to avoid the "I can't believe that you and Casey are not a couple!" kind of comments.

It was a disturbing thought, Casey and I being a couple. We would kill each other.

Either that or I would die of 'natural causes'.

When Marti piped up with her "fantastical couple" I thought Casey would blow a fuse.

She turned beet red, then pale white, then purple, then green. I don't think I've ever seen someone change so many colors, she was like a human rainbow. Then she sprayed water everywhere, now that was priceless!

I had to cover up my disgust at that comment by laughing and telling Marti to choose a different sentence next time.

The highlight of the night was when Marti became convinced that Klutzilla was Casey's real name.

Ahh, 6 year old naivety. It rocks!

I wanted to laugh when I told everyone that Casey and I were just friends. Ha-ha. More like mortal enemies.

I flopped down on my bed and sighed. I need music.

I turned on my new Relient K cd and leaned back against the headboard, tapping my fingers on my thighs in time to the beat.

A couple of days later…

Casey's POV

It was Saturday night, the night of the spring formal. I've taken to calling it that, it sounds better.

Emily and I were getting ready at my house then Max and David, Emily's date, were picking us up.

I stepped into my dress and pulled it up. I smiled at my reflection while Emily oohed and ahhed. It was a sky blue halter dress, the hem falling just below my knee in silky folds. It matched the color of my eyes perfectly and brought out my tan.

I left my hair down in a mass of curls that stopped somewhere right above my waistline and my makeup looked perfect, thanks to Emily.

I turned around and grinned at her. "You look amazing Casey!"

"So do you!" And she did. She had opted for a simple white halter dress, but it gave her a kind of Marilyn Monroe appeal. It set off her coffee colored skin to perfection.

We hugged and danced around a bit in excitement.

Then we headed downstairs.

Max smiled up at me while we were walking down. "What no falling this time?" he laughed.

I giggled and made it down without tripping. "Guess not." I shrugged.

"You look beautiful." He grinned.

"Thanks." I grabbed his arm.

"I've got the prettiest date by far." David bragged.

Emily beamed and took his proffered arm.

We reached the high school gym and went inside.

Already music was playing and kids were dancing.

"Let's go see everyone." Max took my hand and dragged me over to his hockey buddies.

"Can't we dance?" I asked.

"Not right now. I want to talk!" Max blew me off.

I stood away from the group of guys and waited for Max. I don't believe this! He is acting like a jerk. My eyes scanned the crowd and stopped somewhere in the middle of it.

In the center of the crowd, there stood Derek. Did he have to look so hot? Isn't there a law somewhere about that?

Since this was semi formal, none of the guys were wearing tuxedos. Most of them looked like they normally looked. Not Derek.
He was wearing a green dress shirt and black dress pants. He had his hair in its trademark look, messy, and the green shirt was untucked.

Green, by the way, is Derek Venturi's color.

He smirked when he noticed I was staring at him.

I looked away. Great. That's all I need.

I watched Max joke around, I was kind of uncomfortable standing there, being ignored.

I hoped he wasn't going to do that the whole night.

Derek's POV

I turned around and say Casey and Max heading this way.

My breath caught in my throat.

She looked absolutely amazing. I gulped and tried to tear my eyes away from her.

I finally just decided to face her, talking to one of my buddies while Max joked around with everyone. Did he notice that Casey looked kind of uncomfortable?

Did that bother him?
I saw Casey watching me with much the same expression I'm sure I had when I first saw her.

I smirked at her and she looked away.

"Hey Derek?" Some blonde chick asked me.
I racked my brain for a name but nothing was clicking. Macy, Stacy, Traci, what was her name? Mindy. That's it. Where did I get all those other names?

"Not right now." I shook my head. She glared at me and flipped her bottle blonde hair in my direction before angrily stomping away.

Casey was looking at the dance floor, clearly wanting to get out there. Max being the oblivious idiot that he is when it comes to women was just talking away.

"Want to dance?" I hadn't realized I was even standing next to her until I was looking right into her blue eyes.

Casey's POV

"Want to dance?"

I looked up at Derek in surprise.

"Umm sure I guess so." I nodded. I took his hand and looked one last time at Max before following Derek out to the middle of the dance floor.

My luck being the horrible luck that it is, a slow love song came on right when we got out there.

I frowned.

Derek's POV

I looked down at Casey, she looked a little lost. She didn't want to slow dance with me. At that moment though, I think she was just too disappointed to care.

I pulled her closer to me and we danced without speaking for awhile.

"Derek? You do realize we're acting like civilized human beings. This isn't the normal behavior between the two of us." She sighed. Her voice muffled because her head was against my shoulder.

"Weird, huh?" I chuckled. "Maybe we should start acting like imbeciles before things get too abnormal."
"Did you just use two big words? Pronounce them right and use them correctly in a sentence?" Casey moved her head off my shoulder and looked up at me in shock.

"Yes." I crossed my eyes at her and grinned.

"Wow, I don't know which I'm more proud of. The fact that you used two big words or that you actually answered that question with a yes instead of a grunt." She teased.

Our faces were only inches apart. "Both."

"What?" Casey asked breathlessly.

"You're proud of both." My lips were only centimeters away from hers.

Her eyes slid shut in anticipation.

"I'll take it from here Derek." Max grinned and cut between us.

I scowled and walked off.

It's a good thing that Max did come along right about then though. I can't believe that I almost kissed Casey again! What the heck was wrong with me? I hate her and she hates me, why is that so hard to grasp?

Mindy, grabbed my arm and led me out to the dance floor. Clearly she was over her earlier annoyance at me.

I ignored Casey and Max the rest of the night.

Casey's POV

I felt a little wobbly after Derek let go of me. I mean we almost kissed. Again. What is with that?

Do we have a problem?

I watched him leave and sighed inwardly. It's best that Max cut in. It's also good that he didn't notice that he had interrupted us right before we were going to kiss. The night would have ended badly.

A few minutes later I noticed Derek dancing with some blonde girl.

Apparently he was over the little 'almost' moment we had. I think we just need to avoid each other.

I think he's a pompous, disgusting, repulsive, vile, vulgar, jerk. He thinks I'm uptight, prissy, geeky, klutzy, control freak. Opposites may attract, but polar opposites don't!

He enjoys making me weak at the knees; his over-inflated ego gets a big kick out of it.

Ugh. I've got to stop letting my emotions show so easily on my face.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and focused on Max. He looked pretty cute.

Why did I even bother thinking about Derek? I've got Max.

Okay I hope they weren't to OOC in this chapter. I tried to make them tease each other even when they were getting along, I don't know if y'all will like it or not. Review and let me know if I need to edit anything or change anything about this chapter! Much love to all my faithful readers.

Jenna