Sorry it has been a while..hope you like this chapter..I find it to be very funny..So I hope you do to. Next chapter shouldn't take very long. Enjoy.

Derek raced home, ignoring the fact that he was speeding. Casey was gripping the hand guard in fear. Derek practically jumped out of the car, after parking it crookedly, Casey was just enjoying the fact that she was no longer moving at the speed of light. Derek ran inside, slamming the door behind him, and plopped down in his chair.

"Thanks for waiting." Casey said sneering at him. Derek just grinned and turned on the TV. "Well while you sit here doing nothing, I will be cleaning for our guest." She walked out the room. Derek knew it would be a while until Paul got there; however, he couldn't unglue his eyes from the door. Casey and Lizzie buzzed around him cleaning, and on the door is where his eyes remained. As the hour grew later Derek, felt himself becoming more, and more anxious.

(Derek flashes into thought)

"Mom, George, this is Paul" Casey said introducing them. Nora held out her hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She said shaking his hand.

"Oh no, the pleasure is all mine. Casey is a gem." Casey flashed a perfect smile at her parents.

"I'm glad Casey has someone like you to talk too." Nora said.

"Well Casey isn't the only one to come to talk to me." Responded Paul

"Really?" Said everyone in unison.

"Really, just he other day Derek came into my office and told me he loved Casey." Everyone turned and looked at Derek, he was sinking into his chair.

(Derek flashes out of thought)

Derek groaned at the sick feeling that he got in his stomach from the thought of it. He was so on edge that when the doorbell finally rang, he was already at the door before any one could comprehend that someone was at the door. Derek braced himself as he opened the door and saw Paul standing before him. Derek opened his mouth to say something but was cut off, and pushed aside by Casey.

"Paul." Squealed Casey, she led him into the house.

"Mom, George, this is Paul"Casey said introducing them. Nora held out her hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She said shaking his hand.

"Oh no, the pleasure is all mine. Casey is a gem." Casey flashed a perfect smile at her parents.

"I'm glad Casey has someone like you to talk too." Nora said.

Derek's eyes widen and he started to get that sick feeling again.

"Well if you're hungry, dinner is ready." Nora motioned and everyone followed. Derek let out a sigh of relief. Everyone walked into the dining room. Nora and George sat in their usual seats. Lizzie and Edwin had Paul sandwiched, which caused Derek to be sandwiched by Casey and Marti on the left side of the table, which happen to make Paul directly across from Derek. The conversation was awkward feeling, or at least awkward to Derek, for the most part, he stared at his plate and tried to eat.

(Derek flashes into thought)

"Any room for dessert?" Nora asked smiling.

"That was delicious." Paul said as he laid napkin on his plate. "And yes, I would love dessert! By the way Derek is in love with Casey." All eyes fell on Derek and furrowed into him, Casey let out a squeal of disgust and stormed off, Derek sank into his seat wishing he were dead.

(Derek flashes out of thought)

"Any room for dessert?" Nora asked smiling. Derek bit his tongue, and felt oxygen leaving his lungs.

"That was delicious." Paul said as he laid napkin on his plate. "And yes, I would love dessert! By the way, can anyone point me to the bathroom?" Casey's mouth opened to speak, but Derek cut her off by jumping out of his seat. "I'll take him." He grabbed Paul, and dragged him up stairs.

"Why didn't Derek take him to the downstairs one?" George asked, his face showing confusion.

"You mean the one I spent an hour cleaning?" Casey started to stew in her anger.

Derek swung Paul around the corner and brought him face-to-face with the bathroom.

"Thanks." Paul said. He went to enter, but noticed Derek of on the side with his hands in his pocket; he looked as though he had something on his mind. "Anything on your mind Derek?"

"Now that you mention it." Derek motioned for him to come over, Paul did. "You remember the other day in your office?" Paul nodded. "Well I might have said things I didn't mean, and so those things should just probably be forgotten."

Paul grinned. "Derek I think I know where this is going. You're worried I'm going to tell Casey." Derek nodded yes. "That was a private conversation between me and you, thus it stays between me and you."

"What about my parents?"

"If you would have told me something a little more disturbing then yes, but since you claim what you said was not intentional, then no." Derek felt relief come rushing into him. Paul started to walk back towards the bathroom.

"Hypothetically speaking, what would you say if I told you I did love her?" He said catching Paul's attention.

"Considering you aren't blood related it would be fine, but you are related by marriage and you do live together, so I would say pursuing a relationship is a bad idea." Derek just nodded; he was expecting that sort of answer.

Paul could tell Derek was upset. "But the best romance is always the forbidden kind." Derek looked at him confused. "Those are my favorite type of romance novels."

"You read romance novels." Derek busted out into hysterical laughter.

"And you admitted something about your step sister."

"Touche." Derek said pointing his finger at him.

Paul chuckled. "Can I go the restroom?"

"Yea, sorry, go ahead." Derek turned and started walking down the stairs. He couldn't help thinking that maybe Paul was trying to tell him something. Does Paul think I should tell Casey how I feel?

"Nora the meal and everything was lovely. Thanks for having me."

"Anytime Paul." Casey gave him a hug goodbye, she walked back, and watched him and her parents say their goodbyes, Derek walked up beside her.

"So you and Paul were upstairs for a while, chat about anything?"

Derek's heart started to race a little. Did she hear something? "Not really, why?"

"No reason, it's just you weren't your usual self. You were actually…nice to him"

"Maybe I'm maturing." He said with a smirk. He bumped shoulders with her, intentionally, and went to his room.

Casey rolled her eyes. "Yea right." She said under her breath.