SHOUTOUTS\ANSWERS

Bfk1122: Hey, new reviewer. Always awesome. Yeah, I'm not sure how I'm going to portray him either. So it should be interesting.

PaceynJoey4eva: First of all, I am soooooo sorry. Here you've been reviewing faithfully and I've never acknowledged you. I certainly didn't mean to overlook ya. Thanks. I'm sure this wasn't soon enough and I apologize for that as well.

Chicas: Yeah. Sorry about that.

DISCLAIMER

Life With Derek belongs to Disney. Sorry it's been so long between chapters. I've been working on a big Health Science Project.

The next few days was just like the previous one for Derek. Talking to his friends, making fun of the less popular kids, and basically being popular. In fact, at times, he was almost able to forget about Casey. However, as soon as he came home, he would be reminded because Marti would ignore him.

"Come on, Smarti. This has to stop," Derek said one day. Marti just turned her head.

"Smarti," he pleaded desperately. Still nothing. With a defeated sigh, he went upstairs. This is crazy. Marti can't keep blaming me like this, he thought to himself. He flopped onto the bed and sighed. He didn't know what to do. The next day, Derek through the halls. As he maneuvered through the crowd, he heard a bit of a commotion. Curious, he saw Casey's friend Emily on the ground.

"Oooh. Wipe out," Derek winced.

"That had to hurt," a voice next to him said. Derek turned his head to see Sam.

"Look, it's Klutzilla 2," a boy chortled as the girl picked herself up.

"At least I'm not not short on brains," Emily shot back. Derek laughed. That sounded like something Casey would've said. Casey. The house was so silent without her. Derek sighed.

"Hey, what's up, man?" Sam queried.

"Nothing'. Nothin' man. Let's get to class," Derek responded. The bell rang and they walked to class. Later that day, Derek came home.

"Hey, Lizzie. Edwin," he greeted. "Hi, Marty," he said. The girl merely turned away. Derek let out a sigh and walked up the stairs. As he walked down the hall, he looked into Casey's room. Unexplainably drawn to the room, Derek entered, and stood there, looking around at the bareness. It was so drab now. Casey had given the room life. It was so weird to not have her here. Derek couldn't explain what he felt. It was like he was lost, empty. But why? Then it dawned on him and he sank onto the bed.

"I...I don't believe it," Derek stammered. "I miss Casey. I miss Casey."