Author's Note: Here's the next chapter! I hope you guys find it interesting. I really just needed a fill-in so that we could get to the next chapter. Bwahaha. Be anxious for that one, alright? Alright.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Life with Derek

Casey sat in her AP Government class, anxiously waiting for the lunch bell to ring. She had to tell Emily about her last fight with Sam. It was hard keeping track of Emily these days since they both had so much on their hands. Casey sighed, tapping her pencil impatiently on her notebook as she thought about what had happened last night. She hated that Sam acted so defensive and distant at the same time. His inconsistency always threw her off so that she never knew how to react. It wasn't like how she always knew to never let her guard down with Derek. She had so much practice hurling insults at Derek, you'd think she would know not to give up so easily.

Once the bell rang, she put her notebook and pencil in her backpack. Casey walked towards her locker, looking around for Emily. Once she spotted her friend, she waved her down with an anxious expression set on her face.

"Sam and I got into another fight," Casey mumbled, staring at an annoying pink blob of gum on the floor.

"I know. I mean…what?" Emily said, keeping her focus on fixing her locker.

"What do you mean you know?"

"Oh, you know … I overheard Sam tell Derek, that's all."

"Oh. Yeah, well, it sucks."

"Way to go, Captain Obvious."

"Thanks. Are you busy on Friday? I need to get my dress for prom."

"Prom? Oh no, I've got … I've got a dentist appointment. Horrible, isn't it?"

Casey nodded, "Very. Let's get something to eat."

The girls walked by Sam and Derek who subconsciously watched them like the guys they were.

"Emily told me that Casey's scared about our relationship," Sam said out of the blue.

Derek idly wondered why Sam was talking to Emily in the first place and decided that he was bored of him talking about his relationship with Casey, "Yeah?"

"Yeah, dude. It's like Case doesn't have any faith or something."

"Right. Faith. Mhmm," Derek muttered, nodding his head robotically.

It wasn't that Derek didn't want to talk about Casey because he never used to mind bringing up priceless moments between them. However, the idea of Casey and Sam being together always made him feel uneasy and he could never explain why. It didn't help that they've been together for almost two years and Derek still couldn't get rid of this sense of, dare he admit it, jealousy. Although the bachelor's life was all fine and dandy, Derek always got the notion that having a full-time girlfriend for longer than a month wouldn't be as bad as he usually made it out to be. Oh what was he thinking, his life was perfect. The ladies loved him and he loved the ladies. Yet, sometimes it just didn't seem to be enough.

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After school, Sam waited by Casey's locker so that he could dutifully walk her to Derek's car. Having his best friend drive his girlfriend home everyday was always a bit nerve wracking for him, but knowing that they hated each others guts helped a bit. He knew that Derek wouldn't just pull over and have a make-out session with Casey like any other girl because well, she was Casey and he was Derek. Once Sam was wrapped up in his thoughts, Emily walked to her locker, which was still next to Casey's.

"Hey Sam," Emily said, opening her locker quietly.

Sam shook his head quickly to get himself out of his mind and smiled at Emily, "Hey."

"Waiting for Casey?"

"Yeah. Have you seen her?"

Emily laughed, "Of course I have. She's on her way, don't worry."

"I'm not," Sam said, smiling.

Casey walked over to Sam and Emily, "Hey, you two!"

Sam wrapped Casey into a big hug, "Hi, Case!"

"Look, I have to go. My mom's waiting for me. I'll see you guys later," Emily said, waving to them both before walking down the hallway.

Casey smiled at Sam and began walking towards the parking lot, "What color do you want to wear to wear to Prom?"

"What do you mean?" Sam asked, giving her a questioning expression.

"You know, you pick a tie color and I pick a dress. Or vice versa, of course."

"Oh. How about olive green?"

Casey scrunched up her nose, "Olive green? Are you sure?"

"Yeah! Why, what's wrong with it?"

"Nothing, nothing."

Derek had been sitting in his car lazily with his music playing loud enough to hear from the sidewalk. He had his leather jacket tossed over the passenger seat and had the air conditioner on high. It was either too hot or Derek was subconsciously bragging about his good looks through body language. He came back to reality when he saw Casey and Sam walk out of the school building. They were apparently talking about something that Casey was unsure about because she was giving Sam her 'I don't know about this'-face. Not that Derek knew her expressions or anything. Or that he'd admit to it.

At the end of their conversation, Sam kissed Casey in a fashion more explicit than a peck on the cheek. It seemed like he was trying a bit too hard and it almost made Derek laugh out loud. Except for the part where the kiss lasted too long. No, that had made him irritated. He honked the horn of his car and gave a pleased smirk as Casey walked to his car. That's right, Derek Venturi's car.

"God, you and Sammy take forever to say goodbye," Derek said when Casey sat down in the passenger seat.

"You're just jealous because you haven't had any action lately," Casey scoffed.

"You say it as if you're experienced," Derek smirked again as he began to drive.

"Who's the one here who has kept a love interest longer than a month?"

"Who's the one here who has had many 'diverse' experiences?"

Casey crossed her arms across her chest, "You're such a …"

"Such a what?"

"Such a guy!" She exclaimed, resulting in Derek laughing.

"So what does that make Sammy?"

"Why do you have to call him that?"

"Why do you have to date him?"

"What? That made no sense."

Casey had a point. Since she made a point, Derek stayed quiet, her usual way of telling when she had won. In fact, the whole ride home was quiet except for Derek's usual yells or mutters. He had serious road rage when he drove and Casey wasn't sure if she was amused by it or annoyed.

When they got home, Derek was already in a bad mood and went straight to his room. He wasn't even completely sure why he was mad. It could have been the fact that Casey caught him not making sense again, proving that he wasn't as flawless as he wanted to be. It could have been the fact that Casey was snickering while he insulted the driver that cut him off. It could have been the fact that Casey and Sam had wasted his precious time because they were saying goodbye while he was wasting gas. He wouldn't admit that it could have been that Casey and Sam were being a couple in front of him again … Or being a couple period. But it didn't matter because each of these options involved Casey.

Frustrated, Derek turned on his CD player and played his music on the highest volume so that he could drown in it. Music was his way of expressing his anger without having to physically hurt anyone. Well, music and punching the wall. He had already had five holes he attempted to cover with more posters. Sighing, he pulled down a poster in order for him to cover it after creating the whole he was intent on making. At least his mind functioned somewhat properly when he was mad. Derek stared at the wall and punched twice in which both hits were hard enough to create the whole he wanted.

"Damn it, Casey," Derek muttered under his breath and rubbed his messed up knuckles.

Well? I hope it'll satisfy you until the next chapter (which I will hopefully get up tomorrow night).

Thank you to those who reviewed!
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Your reviews are much appreciated.

- Lina.