Chapter Fourteen – All the WRONG Reasons

-NORMAL POV-

"Derek, aren't you even going to help us?" Lizzie asked as she handed the wet dish over to Casey who started to dry it.

"I am helping," he said from the chair he was sitting in. "I'm helping by telling you all how to wash and how to dry." He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the table as he placed his hands behind his head and smirked at them.

"He's only saying that because he doesn't know how to wash dishes," Casey told her. Lizzie smiled before handing Casey another plate to dry. Edwin was putting soap on some of the plates, Marti and Mack were scrubbing them, Lizzie rinsed them, and Casey dried them. They've been doing that for the past thirty minutes and, to them, it felt like the stack hadn't gotten any shorter. The fact that Derek kept giving them orders wasn't helping much either.

"Hey Ed, that plate needs a little bit more soap," Derek said as he pointed at the plate that was in Edwin's hands.

"Why don't you do it then, Derek?" Edwin questioned as he turned to face his brother. Derek just raised his eyebrow and gave Edwin a look before he turned back to the sink and put more soap on the plates, cups, and bowls.

"That's what I thought," Derek said with a satisfied smile as he rocked back and forth in his chair. He almost went tipping backwards when a sponge hit him in the face and the smack seemed to echo in the kitchen. Derek put the chair on all fours as he grabbed the sponge and looked at them all who looked back at him with guilty faces. "All right. Who hit me?" He asked as he stood and crossed his arms over his chest. Casey, Lizzie, Mack, Marti, and Edwin all looked at each other before pointing fingers. "You have three seconds," he said in a dangerous voice. "One–"

They all ran out of the kitchen before Derek chased after them. Marti and Lizzie were screaming as they tried to get away from him. They all dashed into the Game's Closet and, to keep Derek out, they all held onto the doorknob so he wouldn't be able to pull it open.

"This is pathetic!" Casey said as she shook her head. "We're hiding. From Derek. In a closet."

"Would you rather be mauled by him or hide in a closet where it's safe and somewhat cramped?" Edwin asked as he struggled to hold the door shut. On the other side Derek's muffled voice shouted at them that they had less than five seconds to open the door.

"Oh come on. Derek just needs some talking to," Casey told them. "Derek may be a total barbarian but he's not that uncivilized." They all turned to look at her with an incredulous look on her face. "Ok, he's totally uncivilized," she said with a sigh before a smile came to her face. "Ok, to get out of the closet we give him Marti. He can never be mad at her and while she talks to him we can run away."

"You're going to sacrifice a little kid? I don't think so," Mack said as she shook her head. "It's too dangerous," she added in a serious tone which made Lizzie laugh a little. They were quiet and suspicious when they didn't hear anything on the other side of the door.

"We can leave, I think he's gone," Casey said as she started to let go of the door. Mack stopped her with a look.

"Don't bet on it. He's probably waiting to jump us when we leave." Casey and Mack looked at each other. "Edwin, you go check if it's safe."

"What!? Why me?" He asked as he looked at the two teens.

"Because you're a man–"

"Hardly," Lizzie interrupted.

"–and you can stand up to Derek."

"Yeah…and get crushed by him when he goes on a rampage!"

"EDWIN!"

"All right. All right." He was about to let go of the door when George's muffled voice came in.

"Ok guys, come on out." The kids in the closet looked at each other before slowly sticking their heads out of the closet. When they saw that George was actually standing there, with a bored looking Derek, they scrambled out. "Derek has volunteered to do the rest of the dishes so you guys are off the hook."

"YES!" Lizzie and Edwin shouted before running off to play video games in the den.

"What are you guys? Six? Hiding in a closet!" Derek said with a laugh as Casey passed him. She moved to elbow him but he dodged her so she only managed to hit her funny bone on the wall.

"Smack, let's play Fairyland," Marti said as she tugged on Mack's hand.

"Which reminds me," George added. "Mackenzie, your boyfriend is downstairs."

"I could hardly call Noel my boyfriend," Mack muttered. "Is he in the den?"

"Yeah, Lover Boy is in the den waiting for you to break up with him," Derek said with a smirk as Mack turned around to face him.

"How did you–"

"When there's a secret around here it doesn't stay a secret for too long."

Derek followed Mack closely as she bounded down the stairs and walked into the living room. She greeted Noel with a hug and allowed him to kiss her on the cheek. Derek rolled his eyes before lumbering into the kitchen.

"What're you doing here so late?" She asked as she looked at him in confusion.

"I dropped by to give you your birthday present," he responded as he held out a wrapped present to her. A genuinely confused look came onto her face as she accepted the present. "What?" He asked when he saw the look. "You forget your own birthday or something?"

"Or something," Mack responded before ripping off the paper. "Cool, a jewelry box. It would be useful if I ever wore jewelry."

"You don't like it?" Noel asked, sadness seeping into his voice. "I could always take it back and get you something else."

"No, no," Mack said with a little laugh. "I'll keep it. It was really sweet of you. Thanks." She gave him a hug and glared at Derek who was watching intently, drying the same plate he was drying for the past five minutes.

"Before I go I wanted to talk to you about something." He twisted his hands as he rocked back and forth on his feet slightly. "My parents…kinda…want to meet you."

"Your parents?" She repeated. "I don't know…"

"Please? They want to meet the person who made me…branch out, I guess," he mumbled as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Well, I'm kind of grounded at the time."

"How can you be grounded if they're not even your parents?" Mack gave him a scathing look so he quickly brought up his hands in defense. "I take it back," he said quickly. "Well…maybe we can come over here? That way they can get to know your…family?"

"I'm going to have to talk to George and Nora about it first, but I'm sure they'll agree to it," Mack responded.

"You're the best! I'll talk to you tomorrow, all right?" Noel moved to kiss her but he jerked back when the crash from a plate falling out of Derek's hands stopped him. He just gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Mack immediately rounded on Derek, blue eyes flashing in annoyance.

"God Derek, do you have to be so immature?" She demanded as she crossed her arms.

"Yes," he responded instantly as he put the plate down on the table. "Did it ever occur to you that PDA is not what everyone wants to see?"

"I could say the same to you, but I'm not going to bother because I know it won't be able to process in your mind," Mack said dryly.

"What happened to your break up plan?" Derek asked as he leaned against the kitchen table.

"You mean your break up plan?" She demanded as she stood in front of him. "I don't know why I almost went through with it. He seems to care about me. He actually got me a birthday present."

"I told you I forgot and I'm sorry," he said as he rolled his eyes. "Man, you women are so emotional when it comes to something that's no big deal."

"Derek Easter is no big deal. St. Patrick's Day is no big deal. But when you forget someone's birthday, then it's a big deal!" She shook her head and let out a heavy sigh and started talking more to herself than to him. "I don't know why I'm doing this to him. He doesn't deserve it."

"I've known you longer," Derek pointed out. "You met Noel only about two…three months ago. And you barley know anything about the guy." He paused and added, "You know why you have to break up with him."

"Nothing's wrong with me Derek," Mack hissed. "Nothing happened between us."

"You can honestly lie to my face and say that nothing happened?" He asked as he stood at his full height

"Yes," she responded without blinking. "I learned it from you. And I'm not lying when I say nothing happened between us and nothing will happen between us!"

"Fine! Just wait a couple of months and we'll see who's right!" he shouted after her as she stomped up the stairs.

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A/N: Hmmm…I didn't really like this, but it's still important to the story. Oh yeah, readers, if you like this story please recommend it to other people. I would like some more feedback about this. You know the drill, R&R.